Pakistan’s leading energy explorer, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), has announced another major oil and gas discovery in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — a development that experts say could help reduce the country’s energy import burden and strengthen domestic supply. The discovery comes from the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well in the Nashpa Block, located in the Kohat District.
OGDCL made the announcement in a regulatory notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The well, drilled deep into the earth reaching significant formations including Kingriali and Datta, yielded both oil and natural gas, marking a valuable find for Pakistan’s energy sector. Officials said this discovery will contribute to closing the energy supply–demand gap using indigenous resources.
The company described the discovery as “significant” and part of its ongoing exploration strategy to tap new reserves across the country. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the Kohat Plateau, has seen consistent hydrocarbon potential, with several discoveries in recent years. OGDCL and partners have earlier recorded gas, condensate, and hydrocarbon finds in the region, proving that the area holds long-term promise.
Industry analysts say this latest find could boost investor confidence in Pakistan’s upstream sector. Local production of oil and gas improves energy security, reduces reliance on costly imported fuels, and supports industrial growth. With Pakistan importing large volumes of petroleum products and LNG, any increase in domestic production has direct economic benefit.
This discovery follows recent exploration success by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), which also confirmed a new gas find at its Bilitang-1 well in nearby Kohat. That well tested gas from the Lockhart formation, showing promising flow rates and raising hopes of further development in the region. Experts view these back-to-back finds as validation of renewed exploration efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
OGDCL, which began operations in 1961 and remains the largest state-owned oil and gas exploration and production company in Pakistan, covers significant acreage across major hydrocarbon basins including Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Despite ongoing energy challenges, Pakistan has made steady progress in recent years, with several fields producing gas and oil. Fields like Tal Block and other discoveries have kept supplies flowing to domestic markets. The new Baragzai X-01 find now adds to this growing base of domestic hydrocarbons, potentially helping meet local demand and improving supply resilience for years to come.
