ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has sufficient petroleum, oil, and lubricant (POL) reserves to ensure uninterrupted supply across the country until the third week of June 2026, the Petroleum Ministry informed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar during a high-level meeting on May 3 .
The ministry briefed that incoming shipments have been factored into current stock levels, guaranteeing availability despite global supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz – through which approximately one-fifth of global oil passes – has remained paralysed since US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28 .
Deputy Prime Minister Dar commended stakeholders for maintaining steady fuel availability amid “prevailing global and domestic challenges.” The National Coordination and Management Committee is monitoring supplies daily to ensure effective oversight .
However, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik previously acknowledged that Pakistan lacks strategic oil reserves entirely . In a televised interview, Malik stated: “We don’t have any strategic oil reserves… we only have commercial reserves. We have crude worth five to seven days. And refined product with OMCs can only last 20-21 days” .
The minister contrasted Pakistan’s position with India, which maintains 60-70 days of combined strategic and commercial reserves that can be released “with just a single signature” .
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently noted that Pakistan’s weekly oil bill has surged from approximately 300millionpre−warto800 million due to soaring global prices. The government has implemented austerity measures, including a four-day working week for government offices, to utilise available reserves judiciously .
Reports indicate the government is now considering establishing strategic oil storage facilities through a joint venture with Saudi Arabia to strengthen future fuel security
