MILAN: Italian energy group Eni is looking to sell assets in Pakistan as part of moves to refocus its oil and gas portfolio following a strategic re-shake this year, sources close to the matter said.
The company is sounding out potential buyers for a series of oil and gas assets in the country and could have a deal in place before the end of the first quarter, one of the sources said.
"It's a small country for Eni in the sense it has little business there and so it makes sense to rethink operations," a second source said.
Eni declined to comment.
The assets Eni plans to sell include its main producing permits at Bhit, Badhra and Kadanwari, in Sindh province, but will probably exclude its solar power business in the area, one of the sources said.
Eni is currently reviewing its exploration and production portfolio and leaving or downsizing operations in countries where it has a small presence with few opportunities to grow or where development is too long and complicated.
It is working to sell assets in Australia where it aims to keep control of its solar business as it looks to meet aggressive renewable energy targets.
Earlier this year Eni unveiled one of the most ambitious cleanup drives in the oil industry when it pledged to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
The move by Eni, which supplied 3 million cubic meters of natural gas a day to Pakistan in 2018, underlines the chronic problems facing the country, where a deep energy crisis has hampered economic development for years.
Eni looking to sell assets in Pakistan in portfolio rethink — sources
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Eni looking to sell assets in Pakistan in portfolio rethink — sources
- The Italian energy group is sounding out potential buyers and may have a deal in place before the end of the first quarter
- Eni is currently reviewing its exploration and production portfolio and leaving or downsizing operations in countries where it has a small presence
UAE’s AD Ports forms joint venture with Pakistani company to expand logistics footprint
- AD Ports Group announces joint venture with Pakistani logistics provider CEI Supply Chain Private Limited
- Says venture to help AD Ports directly link port infrastructure with inland logistics networks in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: AD Ports Group announced on Thursday that it had formed a strategic joint venture (JV) with a Pakistan-based freight-forwarder and logistics provider, as the UAE-based group eyes expanding its footprint in the South Asian country.
AD Ports said in a press release that it has entered into a JV with CEI Supply Chain Private Limited, a premier logistics service provider in Pakistan. The venture will develop a robust and asset-light network delivering door-to-door solutions across the region.
The agreement was signed by both parties in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi in the presence of UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi and UAE Consul General in Karachi Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi on Thursday, AD Ports said.
“Under terms of the agreement, AD Ports Group will acquire a 51 percent majority shareholding in the new entity, further solidifying its presence in Pakistan, a key South Asian market and gateway to the Group’s Central Asia corridor,” the press release said.
AD Ports said its strategic partnership with CEI Supply Chain represents a “significant step” in the company’s plans to directly link its port infrastructure with inland logistics networks.
It said the new venture will leverage CEI’s operational footprint in Pakistan, which includes key offices in major Pakistani urban centers of Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad.
“By integrating these local capabilities with AD Ports Group’s global reach, the joint venture aims to capture a significant share of the market, particularly in high-growth verticals such as automotive, retail, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and energy,” it added.
AD Ports said its new partnership will provide the JV with access to clients across the country and a solid base for market penetration.
The new venture will be consolidated into AD Ports Group starting in the first quarter of 2026, the UAE-based company said.
Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, regional CEO of AD Ports Group, described Pakistan as a “vital trade gateway” for the region, adding that the agreement was “a natural evolution of our presence.”
“This joint venture with CEI allows us to bridge the gap between port and final consumer, driving efficiency for our customers, and supporting our vision of developing Pakistan as a regional hub for the Middle Corridor and Central Asian markets,” he said.
AD PORTS’ PAKISTAN EXPANSION
The joint venture agreement caps a year of expansion for AD Ports in Pakistan, where the group has established itself as a major investor in the port of Karachi. In August 2025, the group inaugurated its first office in Islamabad to deepen government engagement and accelerate infrastructure initiatives.
AD Ports Group entered Pakistan in 2022 with a landmark 50-year concession to develop and operate container berths 6–10 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf in partnership with Kaheel Terminals. This was followed by a second 50-year agreement in 2023 to manage berths 11–17 for general and bulk cargo.
In July 2024, the group also signed an agreement to invest $250 million over the next decade in Pakistan with plans to develop a state-of-the-art port facility in the coastal city of Karachi.
AD Ports expansion coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to attract international investment, particularly from Gulf countries, with a focus on strategic sectors such as ports and shipping, aviation and logistics to drive sustainable economic growth.
