Pressed by Iran crisis, Pakistan plans to start strategic oil reserve

Islamabad 'is in talks' with Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, China to set up terminals

A crude oil storage tank at a private, company-owned refinery plant in Balochistan province, Pakistan, in March 2026. © Reuters

ISLAMABAD -- With the three-month old Iran crisis exposing weaknesses in the country's fuel supply chain, Pakistan has begun planning to build strategic petroleum reserves for the first time.