ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is formulating a comprehensive energy security policy following disruptions to oil and gas supplies caused by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Thursday during a meeting with Qatar’s envoy to discuss uninterrupted gas shipments and energy cooperation.
The meeting came after Pakistan secured two liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Qatar following weeks of supply disruptions linked to the conflict in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG supplies pass. Qatar is Pakistan’s largest LNG supplier.
The disruptions stem from the war in Iran that began on Feb. 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, triggering weeks of conflict that prompted Iran to shut down the strait. While recent diplomatic efforts and a fragile ceasefire have raised hopes of smoother energy flows,
Pakistan has continued to pursue contingency arrangements to avoid supply shortages during peak summer demand.
“The prevailing regional conflict offers important lessons,” Malik said in a statement issued by his ministry after the meeting with Qatar’s ambassador to Pakistan, Ali bin Mubarak Al-Khater. “The government is formulating a comprehensive Energy Security Policy aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s resilience against external disruptions.”
Malik thanked Qatar for facilitating LNG cargoes at what he described as a critical time for Pakistan, citing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising summer electricity demand.
“Pakistan will continue to coordinate closely with Qatar to ensure uninterrupted LNG supplies,” he said.
Reuters reported this week that Pakistan has been in discussions with Iran to allow limited LNG tanker passage through Hormuz as Islamabad seeks to address domestic gas shortages and avoid disruptions to power generation during the summer months.
Malik said Pakistan preferred securing energy supplies from “friendly brotherly countries” without risking loss of life or property and added that efforts were underway to arrange additional gas supplies to meet national energy requirements.
Qatar’s ambassador reaffirmed Doha’s support for Pakistan and said Qatar had directed its officials to provide all possible facilitation in meeting Pakistan’s energy needs, according to the statement.
Both sides agreed to continue close coordination to ensure stable LNG and energy supplies and to expand future cooperation, including around strategic storage arrangements.
