ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and US Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan Natalie A. Baker held discussions on Wednesday focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in Pakistan’s energy sector, particularly in oil, gas, and minerals.
During the meeting, Baker underscored the growing appetite among American companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy landscape. “There is a strong and growing interest from US companies in Pakistan’s oil, gas, and minerals sector, in line with the vision of President Trump,” she remarked, noting that the United States sees Pakistan as a potential partner for long-term energy collaboration.
Baker further reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to fostering direct connections between American firms and their Pakistani counterparts. “The US embassy will actively facilitate linkages in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector to unlock the immense potential available in Pakistan,” she added.
Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik welcomed this keen interest from US investors and outlined forthcoming opportunities in the sector. He highlighted the government’s plans to initiate a new bidding round for both offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration blocks, offering significant openings for international energy companies.
“Pakistan holds vast untapped reserves of shale oil and gas. Converting these indigenous resources into commercially viable reserves is a key priority for the government,” Malik said. He stressed that Islamabad is already engaged in active information-sharing with US energy companies to encourage their participation in the exploration and production process.
The minister also noted that Pakistan’s energy sector is entering a new phase, where foreign investment, technology transfer, and expertise will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s growing energy demands while reducing reliance on costly imports.
The dialogue marks a renewed chapter in Pakistan-US energy cooperation, reinforcing the shared goal of leveraging Pakistan’s untapped natural resources to create sustainable economic growth while strengthening bilateral ties as well.
