Pakistan is weighing mandatory work-from-home measures and other fuel-conservation steps to manage fuel consumption amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupts regional trade flows and heightens uncertainty in global oil markets.
The proposals are part of a national action plan under discussion by a cabinet committee tasked with monitoring petroleum supplies and prices. Provincial chief secretaries have been directed to attend upcoming deliberations to coordinate potential implementation across the country.
According to reports, the measures aim to keep domestic fuel markets stable and liquid at a time when diesel shipments, particularly long-term cargoes from Kuwait, remain exposed to Gulf shipping routes. More than a fifth of global oil cargoes are estimated to be delayed in the strait, tightening vessel availability and pushing up freight costs.
While Pakistan currently maintains nearly four weeks of petrol and diesel stocks, authorities are seeking to curb unnecessary consumption and discourage hoarding. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has allowed oil marketing companies to temporarily regulate retail supplies based on historical sales patterns to prevent stockpiling during price volatility.
The committee, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, reviewed crude and refined product inventories, liquefied natural gas shipments, and cross-border liquefied petroleum gas flows. Officials noted that while long-term LNG contracts remain intact, broader maritime disruptions could affect global logistics if tensions persist.
Beyond work-from-home directives, policymakers are considering additional demand-management steps and exploring alternative sourcing routes through regional energy hubs, including ports in the Red Sea and the wider Gulf region.
Authorities stated that there is no immediate shortage of petroleum products. They urged consumers to avoid panic buying, while stressing that conservation and coordinated action with provincial governments would be critical if international shipping disruptions continue.
