By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has largely locked in petrol cargoes for the current month and April, with additional shipments in the pipeline to thicken supply buffers, a high-level government committee was told Tuesday as officials monitor the fallout from escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting of the committee set up by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to track petroleum prices and supply movements. Participants reviewed the national energy outlook and received assurances that cargo inflows are proceeding on schedule, the Finance Ministry said in a statement posted on X. “Members were informed that overall inventories remain at comfortable levels, supported by secured import arrangements and ongoing production,” the ministry said. Supply lines from import terminals to refineries, storage facilities and retail outlets are operating in a “stable and orderly manner,” it added.
Refineries are running at regular production levels, with efforts under way to maintain optimal throughput, according to the statement. The committee was also briefed on inbound logistics and maritime operations, noting that petrol cargoes for March and now April have largely been secured.
The session came against a backdrop of sharp global oil-price swings triggered by the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Earlier this month, Islamabad raised petrol and high-speed diesel prices by Rs55 a liter each to pass on the impact of the surge. On Sunday, the government increased the levy on high-octane fuel — a premium grade used mainly in luxury and high-performance vehicles — by Rs200 a liter.
In response to the price shock, authorities rolled out an austerity package that includes a 50% cut in fuel allowances for official vehicles, a four-day work week for much of the public sector and a requirement that 50% of non-essential staff work from home. Essential-service workers are exempt. Last week, the government appealed directly to the public to adopt fuel-conservation measures to avert any risk of supply disruptions in coming days.
Despite the volatility, the committee found domestic supply chains resilient. The meeting assessed stock availability across the crude-oil and refined-products value chain and evaluated emerging global price signals and their potential transmission to local markets. Officials are actively reviewing the divergence between international and domestic prices to guide “balanced and timely policy calibration,” the ministry said.
Particular emphasis was placed on keeping refineries at optimal throughput to limit systemic vulnerabilities. The committee also examined government-to-government engagements aimed at strengthening supply resilience. Members were briefed on diversified sourcing strategies and logistical arrangements with key partner countries to secure both crude and refined products, while expanding storage and transshipment options and maintaining flexibility in procurement and financing. “These coordinated efforts are aimed at reinforcing energy security and safeguarding supply continuity under evolving market conditions,” the ministry said.
Aurangzeb told the group that proactive planning, diversified procurement and close coordination among stakeholders had enabled Pakistan to hold a stable domestic supply position despite global turbulence. “He directed all relevant authorities to continue vigilant monitoring of international developments, stock levels, and supply chain dynamics to ensure timely and coordinated policy responses,” the statement said. The finance minister reiterated that uninterrupted availability of petroleum products remains the government’s top priority. “Sustained coordination and prudent planning would continue to guide efforts to maintain market stability and safeguard national energy security,” he said.
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