By S.M. Inam
KARACHI: Fears of a petrol shortage in Pakistan began to ease on Tuesday as multiple oil shipments arrived at Port Qasim, providing relief after fuel prices surged due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the Middle East.
Port Qasim Authority (PQA) spokesperson Asad Altaf Hussain Warsi said the vessel Torm Damini has already discharged about 37,000 metric tonnes of gas oil over roughly 40 hours and is scheduled to depart tonight.
“The tanker Nave Atropos, carrying around 50,000 metric tonnes of motor gasoline from Singapore, arrived at Port Qasim on March 9 and is set to berth on March 11. Discharge operations are expected to take about 30 hours, with the vessel scheduled to sail on March 12,” he added.
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Warsi also confirmed that Spruce II, carrying approximately 55,000 metric tonnes of motor gasoline from Sohar, Oman, was expected to arrive today. It will berth after Nave Atropos and sail on March 13 after completing discharge. A third tanker, Sea Clipper, carrying around 34,000 metric tonnes of motor gasoline from Fujairah, is scheduled to arrive on March 11, berth after Spruce II, and complete discharge by March 14.
Read More: https://metro-morning.com/global-oil-prices-climb-back-near-90-per-barrel/
The PQA official said a vessel from Fujairah has already arrived, while three more ships carrying petroleum products are expected in the coming days, including one from Oman. Details of the remaining two vessels will be shared once confirmed. Warsi assured that the PQA is coordinating vessel scheduling and port operations to maintain steady fuel supplies.
The Middle East situation escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with attacks on Gulf states and temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, causing a sharp rise in global crude oil prices.
In response, the Pakistani government increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre last Friday, heightening cost-of-living pressures with higher transport fares and rising prices of daily-use items.
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