Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has announced a new oil and gas discovery from its Rahi X-1 exploratory well in the Shah Bandar Exploration License in Sujawal district, Sindh.

The company said production testing from the well confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons, with the site producing 12 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and 0.493 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) at a 32/64-inch choke size.

PPL is the operator of the Shah Bandar block and holds a 63 percent working interest in the project. Mari Energies Limited, the joint venture partner, owns a 32 percent participating interest.

Brokerage house Arif Habib Limited estimated that, based on the tested production levels, the discovery could contribute around Rs. 0.036 per share annually to PPL’s earnings and approximately Rs. 0.042 per share to Mari Energies’ earnings.

The company said the discovery marks progress in Pakistan’s exploration drive aimed at boosting domestic oil and gas supplies. However, additional appraisal work and field development activities will be required before commercial-scale production can begin.

The discovery comes as Pakistan continues efforts to reduce reliance on imported energy by increasing local hydrocarbon output.