Oil and gas explor­ation should also be opened to local entrep­reneur­sThe outcome of Kekra-1 begs the question: why do we need foreign companies to explore oil and gas in Pakistan? It is reported that the two Pakistani companies – OGDC and PPL – which contributed 50% capital to Kekra-1 effort had no say in the matter. It is not even clear whether the local oil companies had any presence at the drilling site or were involved in any of the processes at all. Having footed half the bill, did they outsource the entire effort to the two foreign companies and had no control over the situation? We do not need foreign companies to tell us there is no oil, where we believe there is.

Source: The Express Tribune May 26, 2019 03:33 UTC