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KARACHI: Pakistan’s Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) announced Wednesday it had discovered gas and condensate in Sindh province, with tests showing potential production of 22.5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of natural gas and 690 barrels per day (BPD) of condensate.

The discovery comes as Pakistan struggles with a heavy energy import bill, spending more than $15 billion annually on crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Domestic gas production has been in long-term decline, increasing pressure on the country’s foreign reserves and making new finds critical to energy security.

“Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), the operator of Bitrism Exploration License holding 95 percent working interest, in joint venture with Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) with 5 percent working interest, is pleased to announce the discovery of Gas/Condensate at Bitrism East-1, located in District Khairpur, Sindh Province,” OGDCL said in its stock market disclosure.

It informed the well was spudded on June 30, 2025, and drilled down to a depth of 3,800 meters using OGDCL’s in-house expertise in collaboration with its Joint Venture Partner.

The company said it conducted two drill stem tests (DSTs), a standard procedure in oil and gas exploration.

“In both the DSTs the well produced significant quantities of hydrocarbons with combined production potential of 22.5 MMSCFD gas and 690 barrels of condensate per day (BCD),” it added.

Condensate is like a light form of crude oil that comes out of gas wells, with the OGDCL disclosure report revealing the estimated contribution the well can make to the domestic fuel supply.

OGDCL disclosed the find to both the Pakistan Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, where it has Global Depositary Shares listed, in line with regulatory requirements for listed companies.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday described the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian and human rights challenges in a statement at the United Nations General Assembly, urging the international community to ensure their return to their native land uphold their citizenship rights.

The remarks came at a high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have faced decades of persecution, denial of citizenship and periodic waves of violence.

A 2017 military crackdown drove more than 700,000 people into neighboring Bangladesh, where nearly a million remain in overcrowded refugee camps. Renewed violence in Rakhine this year has forced thousands more to flee, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

“The plight of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar remains one of the most urgent humanitarian and human rights challenges,” Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told the gathering.

“For too long, the Rohingya have endured displacement and limited access to rights and services,” he added. “The recent upsurge of violence in Rakhine State has further intensified their suffering, forcing many to flee and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.”

Ahmad aligned his remarks with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and praised Bangladesh and other host countries for sheltering displaced Rohingya, saying Pakistan understood their burden, having itself hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades.

He stressed that a durable solution lay in addressing the root causes, beginning with full implementation of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State’s recommendations — led by former UN chief Kofi Annan — particularly those related to pathways to citizenship.

Ahmad said only an inclusive, Myanmar-owned process, supported by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), could create conditions for the safe and dignified return of the Rohingya.

He also maintained the credibility of the international community would be judged by its ability to secure justice, restore dignity and enable Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar to rebuild their lives in peace and security.