Tariq Majeed Jaswal leaves enduring legacy in Pakistan’s Hydrocarbon Exploration

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lost distinguished petroleum geoscientist Tariq Majeed Jaswal, whose career converted knowledge of Pakistan’s geology into indigenous energy.

Jaswal built a rare career spanning research, structural geology, seismic interpretation and drilling, ultimately heading exploration at OGDCL and later Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL). OGDCL records list him as General Manager Exploration through the late 2000s to 2011 — one of Pakistan’s most productive phases.

From FY2006-11, 149 wells were spudded with 25 discoveries under his organization, including 10 discoveries in FY2006-07, an all-time high. Key finds included Mela-1, Nashpa-1, Reti-1A, Maru-1, Baloch-1, Shah-1, Sheikhan-1 and Gopang-1. In 2009-10 alone, six discoveries added 14.07 million barrels oil and 161.10 BCF gas.

At POL, his tenure saw Jhandial Well-1 — described as Punjab’s largest oil and gas discovery — plus Joyamair Deep-1 and Khaur North-1.

He was also a noted researcher. His 1997 AAPG Bulletin paper on the Northern Potwar Deformed Zone remains a cited reference on Potwar’s thrust systems.

Colleagues note many prospects now being drilled trace back to maps he left behind. His legacy is both reserves and a roadmap.

May Allah accept his work as Sadaqah-e-Jariyah and grant him Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen.