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Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said it is increasing fuel stocks as Pakistan seeks to protect local supplies after a regional conflict disrupted key oil shipping routes.

In a press release to Business Recorder , the state-owned energy company said that a tender opened on 10th March received bids from international suppliers, after an earlier tender received no response due to tough market conditions.

PSO said the bids are now being reviewed under the usual rules. The company did not say how much fuel it plans to buy or when the new cargoes may arrive.

The statement indicates that the PSO opened the tender as a strategic measure to secure fuel supplies in advance.

Even with the Strait of Hormuz closed, the early move gives the company important time to assess sellers, prices, and alternative routes before existing stocks come under severe strain.

Read More: Saudi Arabia’s Decision Almost Made Fuel Prices Worse For Pakistan

A Ticking Clock on Fuel Reserves

The issue is bigger than a single company’s tender. Pakistan depends heavily on imported oil, and most of those supplies usually come through the Strait of Hormuz .

That route has been badly disrupted by the military conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The government has said there is no immediate countrywide fuel shortage, but officials have also warned that the risk will grow if the conflict lasts longer.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told lawmakers in last week’s meeting that Pakistan had around 28 days of petrol and diesel stocks, about 10 days of crude oil, and about 15 days of LPG and LNG.

If no emergency measures are taken to secure petroleum products, Pakistan could face a nationwide fuel shortage in the coming days.

Read More: What Happens If Pakistan Runs Out of Petrol for a Week?

On March 6, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, at a press conference, announced a Rs. 55 increase in petrol and diesel prices following a jump in global oil prices; the new prices were:

Malik said the price rise was meant to stop stocks from falling too fast and to help keep supplies moving across the country.

The government has also warned oil companies and dealers against hoarding and fake shortages.

Emergency Steps by the Government

To save fuel, the government has announced emergency steps.

These include a four-day workweek for government offices, work-from-home for some staff, a two-week school closure, cuts to fuel allowances, and fewer official vehicles on the road.

Read More: Government to Announce Austerity Plan as Global Fuel Crisis Deepens

The aim is to reduce demand while the government seeks to source additional imports and manage local stocks. The Prime Minister also announced at a conference that he is monitoring daily supply, demand, and shipping conditions.

Pakistan has also asked Saudi Arabia to send oil through Yanbu, a Red Sea port, as a backup to the Hormuz route. Saudi Arabia responded positively, and that one vessel had been arranged under that plan.

However, the Red Sea route is only a temporary contingency rather than a long-term solution. It is being explored as an emergency option, not as a final long-term fix, because imports via the Red Sea will raise shipping costs and, in turn, fuel prices.

Can Pakistan Maintain Fuel Supplies?

For now, the main question is not whether Pakistan has fuel today. The real question is whether the country can keep enough supplies coming in if the regional conflict continues and the main shipping route stays under pressure.

Read More: Fresh Fuel Cargoes Ease Pakistan Supply Pressure

Keep following PakWheels on Google News to stay up to date on fuel price updates and updates regarding oil supply in Pakistan.