Oil and gas exploration in Pakistan should not be affected by an exodus of foreign executives fearing US strikes against Afghanistan, industry officials said today.
"There is a lot of Pakistani staff . . . some senior foreign officials have left but local staff are here, so there will be no effect on exploration activities," Mr Jamil Hasan, spokesman for the Pakistan Petroleum Exploration and Production Companies Association, said.
He said foreign oil and gas companies employ a large number of Pakistanis, who are managed by senior foreign executives, and there was also a second-tier hierarchy of local managers who directly handled operations.
Pakistan's military government tightened security in the country as fears grew the United States might act against neighbouring Afghanistan for the terror attacks that killed thousands in America.
Embassies said they had not ordered total evacuation of their nationals yet but notices warning against travel to Pakistan had been issued. Most multinational companies have told staff to leave or prepare to do so.
Many oil and gas exploration firms - among the few foreign investors still active in supporting Pakistan's shaky economy - have also instructed expatriate staff to leave as soon as possible.