KARACHI – Pakistan is exploring options to transport critical cargoes under its own flag after Iran offered to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.
Following discussions between Islamabad and Tehran, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed over social media that Iran had granted permission for 20 ships “under the Pakistani flag” to pass through the strategic waterway.
Reports claimed that Pakistan does not currently operate that many vessels in the Persian Gulf.
Therefore, the government is considering chartering other tankers and potentially re-flagging them to ensure safe passage of essential supplies such as crude oil and fertilizers.
No final decision has yet been announced.
Last month, DPM Dar, in a post on X, said Iran had agreed to allow “20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz”.
“This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region,” he said. “This positive announcement marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction,” he said.
“Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward,” he said.
On March 30, Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, held a meeting with Nassar Abdulrahman Jasser Almutairi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Pakistan, to discuss bilateral relations, energy cooperation, and regional developments.
Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik expressed gratitude to KPC for assuring full facilitation to Pakistani-flagged vessels for any likely lifting of diesel and jet fuel from Kuwait.
The minister acknowledged Kuwait’s continued support for Pakistan despite global and regional challenges and expressed deep appreciation for Kuwait’s contribution toward Pakistan’s energy security. He requested the Ambassador to convey his fondest regards to Kuwait’s Minister of Oil, H.E. Tariq Suleiman Ahmed Al-Roumi, and the CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah.
