Pakistan Navy Escorts Oil Tankers from Fujairah to Karachi

Two oil tankers operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) have arrived safely in Karachi after sailing from Fujairah, UAE, under Pakistan Navy protection. The vessels carried between 100 million and 120 million liters of fuel, PNSC officials confirmed on Friday.

The escort came under Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr, launched by the Pakistan Navy on March 9 to protect national merchant shipping amid escalating threats to Gulf sea routes. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the operation is running in coordination with PNSC, with navy ships actively monitoring and controlling merchant vessel movement.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar thanked the Pakistan Navy for the secure delivery. He also confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested Iran to facilitate the release of two PNSC vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Pakistan Navy Escorts Fuel Tankers as Fujairah Comes Under Attack

The escort was triggered by a series of attacks on shipping infrastructure in the region. On March 3, falling debris from a drone interception caused a fire at the Fujairah Oil Terminal, damaging storage tanks. A second incident on March 9 sparked another fire inside the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, temporarily forcing several terminals to suspend operations.

Major international shipping companies began pulling back from Fujairah following the attacks. Japan's Nippon Yusen KK stopped calling at the port, and at least one major European shipper also withdrew. Shipping companies cited the risk of drone and missile strikes, along with insurers unwilling to cover vessels at the terminal.

Despite the disruptions, most berths at Fujairah Oil Terminal 1 and the very large crude carrier jetty have since resumed operations, according to trade and shipping sources. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company also informed international partners they can proceed with loading some March crude oil cargoes.

Gulf Oil Tanker Crisis Hits Pakistan's Fuel Supply

The wider Gulf conflict has severely disrupted global oil flows. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil, has come to a near-standstill since hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran intensified from late February 2026. The International Energy Agency has described the resulting supply disruption as the largest in history, estimating a drop of around eight million barrels per day — nearly 8% of global demand.

Gulf producers including Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have cut combined output by at least 10 million barrels per day. Murban crude, previously sold at $63.99 a barrel under official pricing, is now trading above $99 on the spot market as cargo cancellations push sellers onto open markets.

For Pakistan, the impact has been direct. The government announced an emergency increase of Rs55 per litre on petrol and diesel. Petrol now stands at Rs321.17 per litre, up from Rs266.17. Diesel rose to Rs335.86 per litre from Rs280.86. With approximately 90% of Pakistan's trade moving by sea, uninterrupted fuel imports are a national security concern.

Another PNSC vessel, Shalamar, loaded oil at Fujairah and is en route to Karachi. A separate PNSC ship has reached Yanbu port in Saudi Arabia and is expected to sail to Karachi carrying 73,000 tonnes of crude oil, as Pakistan diversifies its import routes in response to the Hormuz blockage.