Pakistan is targeting to raise the current number of exploratory wells and increase its domestic oil production to 100,000 barrels per day from existing 66,000 barrels per day, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported Tuesday.

The country reportedly is also making efforts to enhance its natural gas production to 5 billion cubic feet per day from 3.8 billion cubic feet at present.

Pakistani government is to unveil a new petroleum policy later this year to encourage investment from both local and foreign oil and gas exploration and production companies, the APP report quoted sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources as saying.

Accordingly, the policy aims for acceleration of exploration and production activities in the country, promotion of foreign investment and involvement of Pakistani companies in upstream activities, and encouraging training of Pakistani professionals.

The report said that there was a huge potential for oil and gas exploration in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces as well as in the deep-water Indus delta.