Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia to help secure crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port of Yanbu as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens the country’s energy supply routes, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
The request comes as the strategic waterway between Iran and Oman was shut after escalating hostilities between Iran and the United States and Israel in the Gulf, disrupting tanker traffic through one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.
About one-fifth of global oil shipments normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, including exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Pakistan relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude, with the majority of its energy imports typically transiting the strait, making any disruption a major risk to domestic fuel supplies.
During a meeting in Islamabad with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik discussed contingency plans to maintain Pakistan’s energy supply chain. According to a statement from Malik’s office, Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted.
“Saudi Arabian sources had assured security of supplies through the Port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, which can help meet energy requirements,” the statement said.
“Pakistan is closely monitoring the evolving situation on a daily basis, as the majority of Pakistan’s energy supplies transit through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed Riyadh’s support, saying the Kingdom was aware of the evolving situation and would stand with Pakistan to meet any emergency requirements, the statement added.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share long-standing economic and strategic ties, with Riyadh serving as one of Islamabad’s key energy suppliers.