Petroleum minister reviews energy security, investment with industry leaders

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held separate meetings with the leadership of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in Karachi on Friday.

The talks covered energy security, investment, sector reforms and measures to strengthen Pakistan's petroleum supply chain.

What did the petroleum minister discuss with OICCI?

Malik met senior OICCI officials, industry stakeholders and representatives of foreign investors to discuss developments, reforms and investment opportunities in the petroleum sector. He outlined government efforts to boost exploration, modernise refining infrastructure and advance reforms across the sector, including bonded storage and strategic petroleum reserves to strengthen energy security.

"Our objective is to build a petroleum sector that is more competitive, investment-oriented and responsive to Pakistan's long-term energy requirements," Malik said. "We are pursuing reforms across exploration, refining and downstream markets, while engaging closely with industry stakeholders to address practical challenges and create an environment that can attract substantial domestic and foreign investment."

What did OICCI say about investment in Pakistan's petroleum sector?

OICCI members highlighted the importance of policy and tax consistency, transparency and adequate security in strengthening investor confidence. "The petroleum sector is critical to Pakistan's economic activity and investment ecosystem," OICCI President Yousaf Hussain said. "We appreciate the minister's engagement with the business community and believe continued dialogue can help address practical industry matters while supporting the government's reform and investment objectives."

OICCI Chief Executive and Secretary General M. Abdul Aleem stressed the need for a predictable operating environment to support long-term foreign investment. "For foreign investors, predictability in the regulatory and commercial environment is essential for long-term investment decisions," he said. "Continued government-industry engagement and timely resolution of outstanding industry matters can further strengthen investor confidence and support investment in Pakistan's petroleum sector." OICCI reiterated its commitment to continued engagement with the government on policies aimed at promoting investment, energy security and sustainable growth.

What did the petroleum minister discuss with PSO?

Malik separately met PSO management at PSO House in Karachi, where discussions focused on national energy security, supply chain resilience, strategic storage and digital transformation. The meeting also covered measures to strengthen fuel supply infrastructure and improve the resilience of the petroleum supply chain.

Malik commended PSO for maintaining an uninterrupted fuel supply and recognised its role in supporting stability across the country's petroleum supply chain. He reaffirmed the government's support for modernising the petroleum sector and developing infrastructure to strengthen energy security and improve operational efficiency.

What other petroleum sector priorities did the minister raise?

The minister stressed the need to expand strategic storage capacity, reinforce supply chain resilience and use digital technologies to improve efficiency and responsiveness across the sector.