Pakistan’s state-owned energy giant, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), has reported a significant discovery of oil and gas reserves in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking what the company says is the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the country so far this year.
The announcement was made through a formal notification submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), where OGDCL confirmed that exploration activities in the Kohat region led to the identification of a promising oil and gas reservoir.
According to the company, preliminary findings indicate that the newly discovered reserves could become a major addition to Pakistan’s domestic energy resources. OGDCL described the discovery as the most substantial find in the national exploration sector during the current year, raising hopes for improved energy security.
Energy experts say such discoveries are particularly important for Pakistan, which continues to rely heavily on imported oil and liquefied natural gas to meet its growing energy demand. If commercial production from the site proves viable, the new reserves could help reduce the country’s fuel import bill and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Officials at OGDCL noted that further technical analysis and testing are currently underway to determine the full potential of the reservoir. Detailed assessments will help estimate the size of the reserves, the expected production capacity, and the timeline for possible development and extraction.
The Kohat region has long been considered geologically promising for hydrocarbon exploration, and the latest discovery may encourage further exploration activities in the surrounding areas.
Industry analysts believe that continued investment in exploration and production could play a key role in strengthening Pakistan’s energy sector, especially at a time when the country faces rising fuel costs and increasing demand for power generation.
