Pakistan’s quest to transform its resource economy has taken another leap forward, with its leading energy companies—Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL)—qualifying among 29 global contenders for Libya’s upcoming oil and gas block bid round. The development not only signals the growing ambitions of Pakistan’s exploration and production (E&P) sector but also resonates strongly with the vision laid out earlier this year at the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum-2025.
Held in April, the forum set the stage for unlocking Pakistan’s estimated $6 trillion to $8 trillion worth of untapped mineral reserves. It drew global attention from some of the world’s largest mining and exploration companies, laying the groundwork for partnerships and foreign linkages that could re-shape Pakistan’s mineral and energy landscape. Against this backdrop, the international recognition of OGDCL and PPL marks a natural progression in Pakistan’s strategy to project its resource potential on the global stage.
Both companies, along with the Government Holding Private Limited (GHPL), already hold a 40 percent stake in a major oil and gas well in the UAE, showcasing their ability to operate in international markets. Their qualification for the Libyan bid round—scheduled to commence in February 2026—puts them in the company of heavyweight firms from the United States, China, India, Malaysia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Kingdom.
For Pakistan, the stakes go far beyond a single oil block in North Africa. Success in Libya would mean validation of the expertise and competitiveness of its state-backed companies, opening doors for greater global collaborations. It would also send a powerful signal to foreign investors who engaged with Pakistan during the Mineral Investment Forum, reinforcing that the country is ready not only to attract international players to its soil but also to position its own firms as active contenders in the global resource economy.
The narrative is changing. Pakistan, long viewed primarily as a buyer of energy, is now positioning itself as an emerging player in global oil, gas, and mineral exploration. As the February 2026 bid round approaches, OGDCL, PPL, and GHPL carry not just the hopes of winning acreage in Libya, but also the promise of a new era in which Pakistan’s mineral and hydrocarbon potential is recognised, both at home and abroad.
