Two oil‑laden vessels carrying an estimated 100 million to 120 million litres of fuel safely reached Karachi Port on Friday under the escort of the Pakistan Navy, marking an important development amid global fuel supply concerns and regional maritime security risks, officials confirmed.
The ships, operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, were escorted from Fujairah to Karachi by naval units conducting Operation Muhafiz‑ul‑Bahr, a maritime security initiative launched to safeguard national shipping and critical sea lanes amid rising regional tensions following recent attacks on commercial vessels.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Navy for ensuring the safe arrival of the oil carriers. He said the government has also asked the Foreign Office to engage with Iranian authorities to facilitate the release of two additional vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to security disruptions.
The development comes against a backdrop of heightened security threats across key shipping routes in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, as well as volatility in global energy markets following escalating conflict in the Middle East that has disrupted movements through the Strait of Hormuz.
Ensuring the uninterrupted flow of crude and refined products is seen as critical for Pakistan’s energy stability, particularly as international supply chains face delays and pricing pressures.