Balochistan's Gas Rich Legacy: A Story of Unfulfilled Aspirations

The province of Balochistan in Pakistan has been providing a significant portion of the country's natural gas needs for decades. However, despite its energy-rich districts, the region remains one of the least developed areas in the country.

According to recent data, till 1982, Balochistan was fulfilling 82% of Pakistan's natural gas needs, with the district of Dera Bugti alone accounting for this contribution. Even by 1995, this figure stood at 55%, and 10 years later, it had dropped to 25%. The number still hovers around 20%.

The increase in security challenges in the province over the past two decades appears to be significantly affecting efforts to replace depleting reserves. Moreover, only 6% of the approximately 1,250 exploratory wells drilled in Pakistan so far have been drilled in Balochistan, with around 90% of the province still largely unexplored.

A peaceful Balochistan can start a new spree of exploration, helping not only to arrest but even reverse the ongoing decline in indigenous oil and gas production. This necessitates a review of the government's community engagement model currently in place.