Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has dispatched vessels to ports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to secure crude oil supplies as escalating tensions in the Middle East threaten global energy routes and push fuel prices higher.
The move comes as countries across the region scramble to protect energy supplies following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran, raising fears of disruptions to shipping lanes and oil exports.
The crisis has particularly heightened concerns over the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Islamabad is closely monitoring global energy markets and domestic fuel reserves as the situation continues to evolve.
The government has already increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per liter to manage supply pressures while seeking ways to stabilize the market.
Describing the situation as “extraordinary,” Malik said Pakistan must extend its existing petroleum reserves and secure alternative supply routes to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability.
Read More: Saudi Arabia to Redirect Pakistan’s Oil Supplies via Port Yanbu After Hormuz Disruption
“With the help of the Foreign Office, two Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels are currently on their way, one toward Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port and the other toward Fujairah in the UAE, to bring crude oil from outside the Hormuz region,” Malik said.
The strategy is designed to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles a large share of the country’s imported crude. Saudi energy giant Aramco has also offered additional support, according to the minister.
Malik said the company has assured Islamabad that a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) could be loaded at Yanbu on the Red Sea and positioned near Pakistani waters if required.
Under this arrangement, feeder vessels from the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation would transport oil from the large tanker to local refineries, ensuring a steady flow of crude during the crisis.
The announcement comes as public concern about potential fuel shortages grow by the day, with long queues reported outside petrol stations in several cities as consumers rushed to refill tanks following the price hike.
