Trump Claims Oil Deal with Pakistan, But Experts Question Ground Realities

New Delhi: Former US President Donald Trump’s recent claim of signing a deal with Pakistan to develop “massive oil reserves” has raised eyebrows, especially as energy experts point out that Pakistan has limited domestic oil potential and remains heavily reliant on imports.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, stating, “We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves… We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this Partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India some day!”

However, data suggests a stark contrast to this upbeat projection. According to Worldometer statistics, Pakistan had around 353.5 million barrels of proven oil reserves as of 2016—ranking 52nd in the world and accounting for just 0.021% of global reserves.

With a daily oil consumption of about 556,000 barrels, these reserves would last less than two years if Pakistan relied solely on its domestic supply. Current production levels of 70,000–80,000 barrels per day meet only a fraction—roughly 15–20%—of the country’s total demand.

A senior Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) official noted that Pakistan’s dependence on oil imports is evident in its soaring fuel prices. Petrol in Pakistan currently costs Rs 272.15 per litre and high-speed diesel Rs 284.35 per litre—among the highest rates globally. In contrast, petrol in Delhi is priced at Rs 94.77 per litre, and diesel at Rs 87.67.

Exploration efforts in Pakistan have historically yielded low success rates, and several factors—ranging from political instability and economic constraints to security concerns—have deterred large-scale investment. The country’s refining infrastructure is also considered limited and outdated.

While areas like Balochistan and offshore regions near Karachi have been identified for shale and offshore oil potential, most exploratory efforts have so far been commercially non-viable or inconclusive.

Trump’s announcement has sparked speculation about future US-Pakistan energy cooperation, but experts warn that meaningful progress would require substantial exploration success, foreign investment, and long-term political stability—factors that currently remain uncertain.

For now, the ambitious tone of Trump’s post appears to stand in sharp contrast to the on-ground energy realities in Pakistan.