Why Pakistan is building an artificial island and what Trump has to do with it

Pakistan is reportedly constructing an artificial island after US President Donald Trump publicly expressed interest in the country’s “massive oil reserves” in a July social media post, Bloomberg has reported. The move comes as Islamabad seeks to intensify offshore oil and gas exploration amid renewed diplomatic and commercial engagement with Washington.

According to the report, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. (PPL), a state-owned energy company, is reclaiming land from the sea to build what will serve as a launchpad for expanded drilling activity. The man-made island is planned roughly 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the coast of Sindh, near Sujawal, PPL’s General Manager for Exploration and Core Business Development, Arshad Palekar, was quoted as saying by the report.
Designed to stand six feet above sea level, the platform will enable uninterrupted, round-the-clock exploration by preventing high tides and rough waters from halting operations. The project marks Pakistan’s first attempt at building an offshore artificial island for energy exploration, following models successfully implemented in Abu Dhabi.


The construction of the island is expected to be completed by February, with exploratory operations beginning immediately afterward. PPL aims to drill around 25 wells from the new base as part of a broader effort to uncover potential reserves that have remained largely untapped.

The island project comes against the backdrop of Trump’s recent comments highlighting a new trade understanding with Pakistan focused on developing its oil resources. Earlier this year, Trump had said the two countries were “in the process of choosing the oil company” that will lead the partnership, even suggesting Pakistan might one day export oil to India—hours after announcing 25% tariffs and additional penalties on Indian imports.

Sources earlier told ET that Trump’s remarks mirror similar vague trade pronouncements involving Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, suggesting the statements are also intended to pressure India into negotiations. Pakistan, meanwhile, continues to rely heavily on crude imports, with its proven reserves ranking around 52nd globally—leaving significant scope for exploration but no confirmed evidence of the “massive” deposits Trump has claimed.