Pakistan formally requested Saudi Arabia to provide an alternative oil supply route through the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. The move comes as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions, threatens to paralyze Pakistan’s primary energy lifeline. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik met with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki to secure this strategic shift, aimed at bypassing the volatile Persian Gulf chokepoint.
Saudi Arabia has pledged strong support to Pakistan for securing an alternative oil supply route through Yanbu Port, ensuring priority and continuity in crude oil supplies amid ongoing cooperation. https://t.co/X1RFcWq3vY
— Investify Pakistan (@investifypk) March 4, 2026
The Saudi Ambassador reaffirmed the Kingdom’s “firm support” for Pakistan during these testing times, assuring that emergency requirements would be prioritized. Under the proposed plan, crude oil and finished petroleum products would be routed through Yanbu, significantly reducing Pakistan’s vulnerability to the blockade. Minister Malik confirmed that at least one vessel has already been cleared to lift crude oil from the Red Sea port for immediate dispatch to Pakistan.
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While a newly formed 18-member cabinet committee reported that there is no “immediate emergency” due to existing stocks and alternative imports from the UAE via Fujairah, officials warned that a persistent blockade would have grave fiscal implications. The government has already decided to pass global price hikes on to consumers to avoid a domestic financial crisis. As the region braces for a prolonged conflict, this “Red Sea lifeline” remains Pakistan’s most critical strategy to prevent a total energy collapse.
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