Karachi (TDI): Two oil-carrying vessels of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) have safely reached Karachi under the escort of the Pakistan Navy, easing concerns over a potential fuel shortage amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Officials said the vessels were transporting between 100 million and 120 million litres of oil, and their safe arrival marks a significant development as global shipping routes face disruptions due to ongoing conflict in the region.
The safe escort came as the Pakistan Navy launched Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr, an initiative aimed at protecting national shipping and maritime trade in the face of rising regional security threats. The operation is intended to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and safeguard vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
The move comes amid ongoing hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have significantly disrupted maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that carries nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
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Recent attacks on oil tankers in the region have heightened fears about energy supply disruptions. Reports indicate that explosive-laden boats attacked fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, damaging vessels and causing casualties among crew members.
According to the International Energy Agency, the ongoing conflict could trigger one of the largest oil supply disruptions in modern history. The agency estimates that global oil supply could drop by around eight million barrels per day, nearly eight percent of global demand, if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
Several Gulf countries, including Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have also reduced oil production as the conflict continues to impact regional energy infrastructure and shipping.
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Amid the crisis, the government in Pakistan has introduced emergency measures to stabilise domestic fuel supplies, including a Rs55 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices, weekly price reviews and fuel-conservation directives aimed at reducing non-essential consumption.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has also started importing crude oil through alternative routes, including shipments via the Red Sea, to maintain energy supplies following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
