KARACHI: Pakistan received four fuel-laden ships at Port Qasim as part of urgent efforts to replenish dwindling reserves amid global supply disruptions caused by the ongoing US-Israel attack against Iran, which has severely impacted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — the country’s primary oil import route.
Officials confirmed that the arrivals, carrying over 176,000 metric tonnes of diesel and petrol combined, are expected to stabilize supplies and avert acute shortages that had triggered panic buying and austerity measures in recent days.
The first vessel, MT Torm Damini, carrying around 37,000 tonnes of high-speed diesel, reached Port Qasim on March 8 and has already berthed and fully discharged at the FOTCO Terminal, providing immediate relief to reserves.
The second ship, MT Nave Atropos, with a cargo of 50,000 tonnes of petrol, arrived on March 9 (some reports suggest March 10) and is scheduled to berth on March 11, with unloading imminent.
The third vessel, MT Spross Two, carrying 55,000 tonnes of petrol, is currently awaiting berthing and is expected to unload by March 12.
The fourth ship, MT Sea Clipper, with 34,000 tonnes of petrol, has also reached Pakistani waters and is scheduled to dock between March 11 and March 14, depending on berthing schedules.
Together, these shipments are seen as critical to easing supply pressures, with more consignments expected soon from sources such as Fujairah, Oman, and Singapore. Officials said the Petroleum Division and Port Qasim Authority are monitoring the situation closely, while alternative routes — including via Saudi Arabia — are being explored to mitigate risks posed by the Hormuz chokepoint.
However, despite the arrival of these fuel-laden ships, the government has not been able to provide relief to the general public. Instead, it was quick to announce another hike in petroleum prices, even though the fuel currently in stock had been purchased much earlier — before the escalation of the US-Israel conflict against Iran.
