Govt dismisses fake order on port shutdown

The government on Thursday dismissed as fake a notification circulating on social media that claimed authorities had ordered a temporary suspension of port entries across Pakistan due to security concerns.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs said the document, which alleged that ports would be closed until March 10, was fabricated and had not been issued by either the ministry or the Cabinet Division.

“The notification is fabricated. No such order has been issued by the Cabinet Division or the Ministry of Maritime Affairs,” the ministry said in a statement.

The fake document, dated March 4, claimed that an emergency meeting had been convened by the maritime ministry in view of the prevailing security situation and falsely stated that entries at major ports would be suspended. Ports mentioned in the document included Port of Karachi, Gwadar Port, Pasni Port, Ormara Port and Jiwani Port. Officials clarified that no such restrictions had been imposed.

The clarification came as tensions in the Middle East intensified following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, after which Tehran halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil supplies. Iran has also targeted several US bases in Gulf states including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, prompting temporary airspace closures in parts of the region.

Amid the disruption, Saudi Arabia assured Pakistan of continued oil supplies through the Red Sea port of Port of Yanbu.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed that Riyadh had pledged support for Pakistan’s energy needs during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. Malik said one vessel had already been approved to sail from Pakistan to Yanbu to lift crude oil and expressed hope that future shipments would also be prioritised for the country.