By: FARHAN AHMED CHANDIO
When the world’s main energy artery begins to bleed, Pakistan inevitably suffers the consequences. Today, Pakistan is enduring the fallout of a conflict it did not provoke but is nonetheless paying for. The incident in the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a severe energy crisis, one that the government appears ill-prepared to manage.
The images emerging from the region tell a story that officials are reluctant to acknowledge. More than two hundred vessels oil tankers, LNG carriers, and cargo ships are stranded outside the Strait, unable to pass. Back home, citizens across Pakistan wait for hours at petrol stations, paying nearly 55 rupees more per litre than they did just two weeks ago. In response, the government is considering stopgap measures a four-day workweek, reduced fuel allocations for state vehicles, and a shift to online schooling. This is not the result of a pandemic. It is the consequence of a narrow 21-mile waterway between Iran and Oman being effectively shut down. What may seem like a distant geopolitical conflict has rapidly become a domestic crisis, disrupting everyday life across Pakistan.
The roots of this crisis lie in a dramatic escalation. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint airstrike, Operation Epic Fury, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The strikes targeted military installations, nuclear facilities, and leadership, reportedly resulting in the death of Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran’s response was swift and forceful. Ballistic missiles and drones were launched at US bases and allied targets across the region. The Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, warning that any vessel attempting passage would be attacked. Global energy markets immediately plunged into uncertainty.
The impact was immediate and severe. US crude futures surged by 36 percent, the largest spike since 1983, while Brent crude rose approximately 18 percent, reaching 109 dollars per barrel. Nearly 20 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait daily, representing about one-fifth of global supply and around 500 billion dollars in annual trade. When this vital corridor is disrupted, all economies feel the shock, but fragile ones like Pakistan feel it first and hardest.
Pakistan’s vulnerability is particularly acute. Qatar and the UAE together supply 99 percent of the country’s LNG imports, leaving little room for diversification. Limited storage capacity and weak procurement flexibility further compound the risk. With a significant portion of Pakistan’s fuel imports dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, the closure has pushed the country toward a looming energy shortage. In response, Islamabad has urgently requested Saudi Arabia to reroute crude shipments through Red Sea ports like Yanbu, a longer, costlier alternative. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s business community has called for the formal declaration of an energy emergency.
Amid this crisis, Pakistan also faces a diplomatic dilemma. Iran has condemned the US Israel strikes as a violation of international law and asserted its right to self-defence. As a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Pakistan must decide where it stands. Publicly, Islamabad has taken a confrontational tone against the strikes. Privately, however, it is seeking assistance from Riyadh to secure energy supplies. This dual approach exposes a contradiction, projecting resistance while quietly relying on the very alliances it critiques. This is not strategic diplomacy. It is strategic drift.
The path forward demands urgency and clarity. Pakistan must immediately declare an energy emergency and implement fair, transparent rationing. The country needs to invest in building strategic petroleum reserves to ensure resilience against future shocks. This crisis has exposed a harsh reality. Pakistan cannot sustain even a short-term disruption in supply. At the same time, long-term solutions such as expanding renewable energy and accelerating domestic gas development must be prioritized.
Diplomatically, Pakistan must move beyond ambiguity. Given its relationships with Washington and Tehran, its role in the Muslim world, and its status as a nuclear state, Pakistan is uniquely positioned to advocate for de-escalation. The world urgently needs mediators, and Pakistan has both the credibility and the opportunity. What is missing is the political will.
The shockwaves from the Strait of Hormuz extend far beyond energy markets. They threaten to tighten financial conditions, accelerate inflation, and push already fragile economies toward recession. Pakistan, already under economic strain, cannot afford a prolonged crisis.
The tankers remain stranded. The queues at petrol stations continue to grow. Time is running out. Pakistan did not start this war, but without decisive and vigilant action, it may not survive its consequences.
