Pakistan has acknowledged its energy vulnerability as global crude prices surge, admitting it does not have “strategic oil reserves like India” to cushion the blow.
The country's petroleum minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, revealed that Islamabad has crude stocks for just “five to seven days”, in contrast, India can tap into significantly larger reserves “with just a single signature.”
The contrast with India has become central to Islamabad’s concerns, with Malik claiming that India maintains an estimated 60–70 days of combined strategic and commercial reserves, allowing it to better absorb global shocks.
Malik highlighted broader economic differences, noting that India’s financial strength plays a key role, with $600 Arab dollars worth of reserves, and strategic reserves that help New Delhi “cushion this crisis.”
Despite ongoing disruptions in global supply chains, petrol and diesel prices in India have remained largely stable, while in Pakistan, the energy crunch has spilled onto the streets, with widespread protests and shortages.
The government has had to engage in backchannel negotiations to ease the burden on consumers, with Malik warning against breaching IMF commitments, which could have led to even worse consequences.
