Pakistan is sitting on billions of barrels of undiscovered oil and gas, and the key to unlocking this vast potential lies in artificial intelligence, industry specialists told a conference on Monday, urging immediate action to tackle the nation”s deepening energy crisis.
According to a report today, experts at the 2nd International Oil and Gas Conference 2025 emphasized that modern, AI-supported exploration techniques could enable deeper, faster, and more accurate identification of resources, helping to close the widening gap between domestic energy supply and consumer demand.
Delivering the keynote address, Kuwait Petroleum Country Manager Ali Taha Al Temimi highlighted the scale of the opportunity, estimating that Pakistan may hold between ten and twenty billion barrels of equivalent oil in its mature basins. He added that the lower Indus Basin alone could contain thirty-five to seventy trillion cubic feet (TCF) of tight gas and ninety-five to one hundred and five TCF of shale gas.
Al Temimi pointed out that the country”s domestic supply no longer meets national needs, forcing heavy reliance on costly imported fuel. Pakistan currently produces a maximum of around four billion cubic feet of gas per day, which is significantly below its requirements. He maintained that AI-assisted analysis of geological data and modern seismic imaging could speed up discovery in deeper, untouched stratigraphic layers and reduce the high costs associated with drilling.
The nation”s offshore potential was also a major focus, with Al Temimi noting that the vast area, covering over 282,000 square kilometres, remains critically underexplored with only eighteen wells drilled to date. “This is extremely low for a region of this size and offshore Pakistan may hold between six and seven billion barrels of oil equivalent in prospective resources,” he stated, adding that a single major success could attract global companies, similar to how recent discoveries triggered international interest in Namibia.
During a special panel on gaseous fuels, energy specialists revealed that liquefied natural gas (LNG) fired power plants in Punjab, established to manage the energy crisis, are now largely redundant. The panel noted that the growing availability of indigenous energy sources, particularly Thar coal for power generation, has diminished the need for these plants.
The experts stressed that surplus regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) currently being imported should be redirected to industries for their captive power plants to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. They called for broad-based reforms for the efficient utilisation of this surplus RLNG.
The panel, moderated by Moin Qazi of Nimex Petroleum Group, also underscored the importance of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for remote and rural communities lacking access to pipelined natural gas. They advocated for the strict enforcement of safety regulations for LPG transportation and use to protect consumers.
Representing the government, Joint Secretary Petroleum Shehbaz Tahir told the conference that reforms have been introduced to stabilise the energy sector. He acknowledged ongoing LNG-related challenges but noted that domestic connections based on LNG have now been opened.
The conference, organised by Energy Update in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), brought together leading national and international firms, policymakers, and industry professionals. Speakers, including senior executives from Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Pak-Arab Refinery Limited, and Attock Refinery, discussed challenges ranging from refinery operations to supply pressures.
In a concluding call to action, speakers urged for rapid investment in exploration, faster regulatory approvals, stronger private sector participation, and consistent policies to help Pakistan achieve long-term energy security. They asserted that a combination of AI-supported exploration and offshore drilling, backed by political commitment and investor confidence, could reshape the country”s energy future.