Pakistan confirms POL stocks sufficient till third week of June

Pakistan has sufficient stocks of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) to meet domestic demand until the third week of June 2026, the petroleum ministry informed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday.

The assurance was given during a high-level meeting held to review the country’s petroleum supply and stock position.

Officials told the meeting that, after factoring in incoming shipments, POL reserves remain adequate to ensure uninterrupted availability across the country within the stated period.

The petroleum ministry said the supply situation is being monitored on a daily basis by the National Coordination and Management Committee (NCMC) to ensure oversight and management of the fuel supply chain.

The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.

Officials noted that the assessment reflects current inventory levels and expected arrivals of fuel cargoes, which together support stable supply conditions in the short term.

The update comes as global fuel prices have surged over the past two months, driven by disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

In this backdrop, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently stated that Pakistan’s weekly oil import bill had increased to $800 million, compared to around $300 million before the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

He said international fuel prices had risen sharply, while domestic consumption had shown a decline in recent weeks, adding that the situation was being closely monitored.

The prime minister also praised Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik for managing fuel supply challenges, describing the overall situation as “satisfactory” despite global pressures.

Earlier in March, the government had introduced austerity measures to manage fuel consumption, including a reduced four-day working week for most government offices from Monday to Thursday, excluding banks, hospitals, ambulance services, as well as agriculture and industrial operations.