ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Tuesday a fuel vessel carrying diesel and jet fuel from Kuwait had safely reached the country under special approvals following disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, helping maintain domestic fuel supplies during a period of regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has faced major disruption in recent months following military escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran. Shipping through the waterway has been severely affected after Iran moved to restrict traffic following US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, raising fears of fuel supply shortages and price shocks across energy-importing countries including Pakistan.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Kuwait’s ambassador to Islamabad, Nassar Abdulrahman Jasser Almutairi, on Tuesday to discuss fuel supplies, regional developments and longer-term energy cooperation, according to a statement issued by the petroleum ministry.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik (right) met Kuwait’s ambassador to Islamabad, Nassar Abdulrahman Jasser Almutairi, (left) in Islamabad, Pakistan on May 12, 2026. (Press release/PID)
The statement said the vessel Khairpur transported around 45,000 tons of diesel and 10,000 tons of jet fuel from Kuwait to Pakistan after receiving special approvals linked to shipping disruptions in the region.
The minister said the vessel’s arrival helped ensure continuity in fuel supplies at a time of heightened regional uncertainty.
“The vessel transported approximately 45,000 tons of diesel and 10,000 tons of jet fuel from Kuwait to Pakistan under special approvals, following disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in Pakistan’s petroleum sector, particularly refining and strategic fuel storage infrastructure.
“Both sides discussed prospects for enhanced cooperation in the petroleum and energy sectors especially refining and agreed to explore new opportunities around building strategic storages in Pakistan that could bring mutual benefit to Pakistan and Kuwait,” the statement added.
Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized concerns over the economic fallout of the prolonged regional conflict, particularly its impact on fuel imports, inflation and external financing pressures.
