What happened
Four tankers carrying petrol and diesel had reached Pakistan by 10 March 2026, with three still waiting to berth and discharge their cargoes, as the war in the Middle East disrupted oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Dawn reported the arrivals, citing the Port Qasim Authority (PQA).
The PQA said the marine tanker Torm Damini reached Pakistan on 8 March and had already offloaded 37,000 tonnes of diesel. A second tanker, Nave Atropos, carrying 50,000 tonnes of petrol, had reached Port Qasim and was scheduled to berth on Wednesday, with discharge expected to take around 30 hours. Spruce 2, carrying 55,000 tonnes of petrol, was expected to berth on Thursday, and Sea Clipper, carrying 34,000 tonnes of petrol, on 13 or 14 March. Another vessel bringing petrol for state-owned Pakistan State Oil was expected to arrive after 16 March.
Why it matters
A senior official of the petroleum ministry told Dawn that the country had petrol and diesel stocks for 25 days, and said the imports would ensure supply did not dry up. The official added that people had started conserving fuel after the recent increase in petroleum prices, which was also helping maintain stocks. The government had raised petrol and high-speed diesel prices by Rs55 per litre, or 20 per cent, the previous Friday — described by Dawn as the first direct big economic impact of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Separately, the PQA said four ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had arrived. MD23 had discharged 3,500 tonnes of LPG; Navigator Atlantic was discharging 12,000 tonnes of LPG from Oman at the Engro Vopak terminal; Navigator Aries was discharging 11,000 tonnes of LPG mix from Iraq at the Sui Southern Gas Company LPG terminal; and Ullswater was outside the port area, waiting with 3,700 tonnes of LPG mix from Iraq. KhabarWire reported the federal fuel-contingency measures earlier in March.
What is still uncertain
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told Geo News that Saudi Arabia had been providing “immense” help in procuring fuel and that arrangements had been made through the Yanbu port. He said Saudi Arabia was also arranging ships, but that a plan to transfer a large cargo to smaller vessels in Oman had stalled because insurance could not be obtained. He said there were chances petroleum prices would not fluctuate considerably in the near future, but that he could not estimate with accuracy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the finance and petroleum ministers to work with provincial governments on a strategy to conserve fuel and ensure uninterrupted supply.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 10 March 2026.
- Dawn — "4 fuel-laden ships reach Pakistan amid concerns about shortages, 3 yet to berth"Published 10 March 2026 · The PQA statement on Torm Damini, Nave Atropos, Spruce 2 and Sea Clipper; cargo tonnages and berthing dates; the 25-day petrol and diesel stock figure; the four LPG vessels; Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik's remarks on Saudi assistance and insurance; and the prime minister's direction to the finance and petroleum ministers.
