Pakistani energy explorers venturing into insurgency areas

Karachi

PAKISTAN'S state-owned companies are spending record amounts on energy exploration, including in areas more known for separatist insurgency, as old fields start to dry up.

While global producers negotiate on further production cuts, Oil and Gas Development Co, the nation's largest explorer, has more than doubled seismic activity, and Pakistan Petroleum Ltd has almost doubled wells drilled in the past two years as it becomes cheaper after the global crude plunge.