ISLAMABAD: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, minister for petroleum, visited Mari Petroleum Company LTD (MPCL) head office in Islamabad on Thursday and praised the operational performance of MPCL in the fields of exploration and production. The minister was earlier received at MPCL Head Office by Lt Gen (r) Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad, MD&CEO of Mari Petroleum Company. A detailed presentation regarding MPCL’s performance was given to the minister. The minister was informed that MPCL is presently working in 8 operated and 5 non-operated blocks with 125 producing wells. The minister was pleased to note that MPCL has 77% success ratio. Abbasi was informed that MPCL has drilled 13 exploratory wells during the last 04 years (2013-2017) out of which 10 were successful and in result its gas, oil and condensate production has increased significantly. The minister was particularly pleased to note that MPCL is contributing in Pakistan’s food security through gas production which is resulting in production of 80% of country’s Urea, and supplying uninterrupted gas to all its customers since 1967. The minister hailed the efforts of MPCL employees and management and urged them to continue working with the present commitment, zeal and enthusiasm. Published in Daily Times, July 7th , 2017.