The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) informed today that it has successfully maintained the country’s crucial energy supply chain amidst significant regional maritime instability, which has seen global freight costs surge and many international shipping lines hesitate to operate in the area.
Operations continued despite the designation of an extended High Risk Area (HRA) that includes the Red Sea, Fujairah, and Sohar, a zone where numerous foreign-flagged vessels have shown reluctance to sail due to the prevailing geopolitical climate.
Since the recent escalation in regional tensions, the national carrier has transported approximately 574,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, equivalent to eight or nine separate cargoes.
Additionally, PNSC has delivered 61,000 metric tonnes of gasoil under arrangements with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) suppliers.
Crucially, the state-owned enterprise managed to keep its freight levels stable for these deliveries, providing a significant buffer against a volatile international freight market that has experienced increases of five to six times the normal rates.
According to the corporation, this performance underscores the strategic value of maintaining Pakistan-flagged vessels and employing national crews to secure the country’s supply chain during periods of crisis.
PNSC is encouraging the nation’s importers and exporters to prioritise the use of national flag services to bolster long-term maritime resilience and guarantee operational continuity in challenging global environments.