Karachi, March 10, 2026: Amid a growing energy crisis linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, four petrol-laden vessels have arrived at Port Qasim, providing much-needed fuel supplies to Pakistan, officials said on Tuesday.
According to port authorities, approximately 37,000 tonnes of petrol have already been offloaded, while another 50,000 tonnes are currently being transferred from the ships.
Officials added that two additional vessels are expected to arrive soon — one carrying 55,000 tonnes of petrol on March 12 and another with 34,000 tonnes on March 13, further boosting fuel supplies in the country.
The arrival of the shipments comes days after the government increased petroleum prices sharply due to rising international oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict. The price of petrol was raised by Rs55 per litre, bringing it to Rs321.17 per litre, up from Rs266.17, while diesel prices increased to Rs335.86 per litre from Rs280.86.
In response to the global fuel shortage and its economic impact, the government has also announced several austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption.
Addressing the nation earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the region had been engulfed by conflict and emphasized that Pakistan was pursuing diplomatic efforts to help ease tensions.
He said the government had taken difficult economic and administrative decisions to manage the situation and reduce the impact of the ongoing energy crisis on the public.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the austerity measures apply across federal government institutions, including ministries, departments, autonomous bodies, state-owned enterprises, the legislature, defence organizations and the judiciary.
