Pakistan has petrol reserves for 27 days and diesel for 21 days, lawmakers were told, as supply disruptions and delayed LNG cargoes raise concerns over energy security
Pakistan currently has enough petrol stocks for 27 days and diesel reserves for 21 days, according to officials who briefed a Senate panel on the country’s fuel position amid growing pressure on global energy supply chains. The update comes at a time when regional tensions in the Middle East are continuing to test import-dependent economies across South Asia.
During the briefing, Petroleum Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh said Pakistan was closely monitoring its petroleum supply situation as international oil markets remain volatile. Lawmakers were told that the country also has liquefied petroleum gas reserves for nine days and JP-1 aviation fuel stocks for 14 days, underlining the wider concern around energy security beyond petrol and diesel alone.
The pressure is particularly significant for Pakistan because around 70% of its petroleum supplies come from the Middle East. Officials said ongoing regional instability has affected vessel movement, while some shipments that would usually arrive within four to five days are now taking as long as 12 days when routed differently.
The committee was also informed that crude oil reserves currently stand at 11 days. Two tankers carrying petrol and diesel have recently arrived, offering some relief, while authorities are also exploring alternative supply options, including potential purchases from Russia. Officials further said Pakistan is in talks with Iran over allowing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with several Pakistani vessels waiting in the region.
Gas supplies present another layer of concern. Officials told the panel that supplies from Qatar had been completely suspended due to the ongoing conflict. Of eight LNG cargoes expected in March, only two reached Pakistan, while six were unable to arrive. In April, three out of six scheduled cargoes are also expected to face delays, raising the prospect of a gas shortage after April 14 if supplies do not resume.
To manage the situation, the government has formed a ministerial committee that is reviewing petroleum supplies on a daily basis. Officials maintained that petroleum products remain available across the country for now, but the briefing made clear that Pakistan’s energy outlook is becoming more vulnerable as geopolitical disruption continues to reshape fuel and gas supply routes.
