ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday sought an alternative oil supply route through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that threatens a significant portion of global energy flows.
The request was made by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, according to a statement issued by the Petroleum Division.
The minister briefed the ambassador on the rapidly evolving regional situation and its potential impact on international energy markets, noting that the bulk of Pakistan’s oil imports traditionally transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the government was closely monitoring developments and taking proactive measures to ensure continuity in the country’s energy supply chain. Malik stressed that support from friendly nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, was crucial under the prevailing circumstances.
According to the statement, Saudi authorities assured Pakistan that oil supplies could be facilitated through the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea to help meet the country’s requirements. The minister said one vessel had been assured dispatch from Pakistan to Yanbu for lifting crude oil and expressed hope that supplies from the port would be prioritised.
Malik thanked the Kingdom for its continued cooperation, saying Pakistan deeply valued Saudi Arabia’s support during the ongoing crisis.
The Saudi envoy reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to stand by Pakistan in meeting any emergency energy needs, describing the two countries as brotherly nations that support each other, particularly in challenging times.
The development follows a warning from a senior official of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and cautioned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be targeted in the wake of the United States-Israel attack.
Iranian state media quoted Ebrahim Jabari, senior adviser to the Guards’ commander-in-chief, as saying that Revolutionary Guards and naval forces would act against ships attempting transit.
The Strait of Hormuz, linking major Gulf oil producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is regarded as the world’s most critical oil export corridor. Roughly one-fifth of global daily oil consumption passes through the narrow waterway, which is about 33 kilometres wide at its tightest point.
Analysts warn that any prolonged disruption could significantly impact global crude markets and drive prices higher.