Pakistan is moving ahead with a bold offshore project aimed at speeding up its search for new oil and gas reserves. State-owned Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. (PPL) is developing an artificial island roughly 30 kilometers off the coast of Sindh, near Sujawal, to serve as a dedicated base for drilling operations.

According to PPL’s General Manager for Exploration and Core Business Development, Arshad Palekar, the man-made platform will stand about six feet above sea level, allowing crews to work continuously without disruptions from high tides. He shared the update during an oil and gas conference in Islamabad.

Interest in Pakistan’s offshore potential has grown in recent months after U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the country’s “massive oil reserves” in a social media post earlier this year. Since then, the government has granted new offshore exploration licenses to PPL, Mari Energies Ltd., and Prime International Oil and Gas Co.

The upcoming platform marks Pakistan’s first attempt at building offshore drilling islands, drawing inspiration from similar projects completed in Abu Dhabi. Construction is expected to finish by February, after which PPL plans to immediately begin operations and drill around 25 wells.

The initiative signals Pakistan’s renewed drive to expand its energy resources and reduce reliance on imported fuel.