Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr ensures safe arrival of 120 million litres of crude oil to Karachi despite rising Middle East maritime tensions.
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Navy has successfully escorted a major shipment of crude oil to Karachi, strengthening the country’s energy security as rising tensions in the Middle East threaten global shipping routes.
The mission was conducted under Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr, a strategic naval operation launched to safeguard Pakistan’s merchant vessels navigating volatile waters near the Gulf region.
According to maritime officials, the oil tankers avoided high-risk zones by carefully navigating near coastal routes and moving close to Iranian territorial waters. The tactical maneuver helped them bypass dangerous sections of the Gulf of Oman where commercial ships face potential missile attacks and seizures.
Security analysts say the “coastal hugging” route has become a key strategy for non-combatant states seeking to maintain supply chains while major shipping lanes remain exposed to regional conflict.
The tankers safely docked at Karachi’s main port carrying nearly 120 million litres of crude oil, providing temporary relief to Pakistan’s energy market. The country relies heavily on maritime trade, with nearly 90 percent of imports arriving by sea.
Officials say the shipment is crucial to stabilizing fuel supplies and preventing disruptions in Pakistan’s transport and industrial sectors amid inflationary pressure.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office is engaged in diplomatic discussions with Tehran to ensure safe passage for several Pakistani-flagged vessels still stranded in the Persian Gulf.
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