Pakistan secures another Qatari LNG cargo via Hormuz: report

Pakistan has secured an additional shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Bloomberg report. The LNG tanker, which loaded its cargo from Qatar's Ras Laffan facility in late June, navigated the Strait over the weekend and is scheduled to reach Pakistan's LNG import facility by Tuesday, per ship-tracking data. The passage was negotiated between Pakistani government officials, as reported directly by Bloomberg.

This is the second Qatari LNG delivery to Pakistan this month. Earlier, the tanker Al Marrouna, carrying LNG from Qatar, arrived at Pakistan's Port Qasim. Pakistan had previously considered a tender if the shipment did not clear the Strait of Hormuz. The government prefers a successful delivery to avoid purchasing expensive LNG on the spot market, where prices have surged to their highest level since 2022.

Pakistan is grappling with significant challenges in securing LNG deliveries due to geopolitical disruptions and skyrocketing spot market prices. The country is heavily reliant on long-term supply agreements with Qatar for stable and more affordable LNG. However, renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz led to the cancellation of a Qatari LNG shipment slated for July 2026 and prompted Qatar to declare force majeure, disrupting LNG imports.

This compelled Pakistan to secure emergency supplies and explore alternative fuels or costly spot cargoes.

On Sunday, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik warned that fuel prices could rise to Rs1,000 per litre if a shortage occurs. While emphasizing there is currently no fuel shortage in the country, Malik attributed the recent increase in oil prices in the international market to around 80%, while petrol prices in Pakistan have only been raised by 50% since March 1 of this year.