# Fuel covered for September and October, minister says, as Saudi pipeline stays shut Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/pakistan-fuel-stocks-september-october-saudi-pipeline-shut) Type: News article Author: Searchable Editorial Published: 17 Sept 2026 Updated: 17 Sept 2026 Retrieved: 17 Sept 2026 > Ali Pervaiz Malik says Pakistan's petrol and diesel needs are secured for two months and warns an attack on a stranded tanker would be an act of war. November is the worry. The backup plan, explained. Pakistan has enough fuel **for September and for October**, even under adverse scenarios, Petroleum Minister **Ali Pervaiz Malik** said on 16 September. **November is not yet secured**, and the government is lining up new suppliers and a very large crude carrier to get around the fighting in the Gulf and the Red Sea. The reassurance comes as petrol reaches [Rs 391.22 a litre](/news/economy/petrol-price-2026-09-17) after eight straight daily rises, and as Saudi Arabia's east-west crude pipeline stays shut after Houthi attacks. ## What the minister said - **Stocks:** "Even in this risky environment we have September covered," Malik said, adding that October needs are also covered, Business Recorder reported. - **The stranded tanker:** an empty tanker waiting near the Saudi pipeline terminal in the Red Sea is on standby at Saudi Arabia's request. "We will have to move it one way or another," he said, and warned that any attack on it would be treated as **"an act of war"**, Geo News reported. - **The pipeline:** Geo reports the Saudi pipeline could stay closed for **up to six weeks**. ## Why Pakistan is exposed Pakistan brings in **80% to 85%** of its oil and gas from the Gulf, all of it through the **Strait of Hormuz**, according to the minister's briefing reported by Business Recorder. Diesel is the tightest product, because domestic supply depends on local refineries running at full capacity. Any interruption there shows up first at truck stands and tube wells, and then in food prices. ## The backup plan 1. **New sources:** Oman and Fujairah, plus cargoes from **Libya, the United States, West Africa (Nigeria) and Kazakhstan**. 2. **A floating depot:** a very large crude carrier (VLCC), which carries about four times a normal tanker, would sit near **Hub or Sohar**. Because Pakistani ports cannot take a ship that size, crude would be moved ship-to-ship into smaller tankers. ## The Makkah pact Defence Minister **Khawaja Asif** said on Geo on 16 September that the **Makkah Joint Defence Agreement**, signed on 7 August 2026 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, "applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty". Speaking on Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath, he said that if the situation escalates, Pakistan and Turkey will stand with Saudi Arabia "practically and diplomatically", and that defending Makkah and Madinah is a religious obligation with or without an agreement. Saudi air defences intercepted a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday evening. The Houthis denied targeting the city and said they aim at Saudi oil facilities and military bases. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attempted attack. Pilgrims can read [what Umrah travellers should know](/news/world/drone-shot-down-near-makkah-what-pakistani-umrah-pilgrims-should-know). ## What it means for you - **No need to panic-buy.** The minister says supply is covered for two months. Filling jerry cans only strains local pumps. - **Prices will keep moving daily.** Supply security does not mean lower prices while crude stays above $100. Check the [petrol](/data/petrol-price) and [diesel](/data/diesel-price) pages before you fill. - **Cut the bill where you can.** Bike and 800cc car owners should register for the [Rs 100 relief on 9771](/news/economy/rs-100-off-a-litre-petrol-relief-9771-who-qualifies-how-to-claim), and anyone can test trips in the [fuel cost calculator](/tools/cars/fuel-cost-calculator). ## Frequently asked questions **Will Pakistan run out of petrol or diesel?** Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on 16 September 2026 that Pakistan's fuel needs are covered for September and October even under adverse scenarios. November supply was still being arranged. ## Sources - Pakistan secures Sept fuel, eyes US crude via VLCC as conflict threatens fuel supplies (16 Sep 2026) (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40439773/pakistan-secures-sept-fuel-eyes-us-crude-via-vlcc-as-conflict-threatens-fuel-supplies - Pakistan warns any attack on oil tanker stuck near Saudi pipeline will be 'act of war' (16 Sep 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/682356-pakistan-warns-any-attack-on-oil-tanker-stuck-near-saudi-pipeline-will-be-act-of-war - Defence minister says time has come to implement Makkah pact amid Houthi attacks (16 Sep 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/682383-defence-minister-says-time-has-come-to-implement-makkah-pact-amid-houthi-attacks - Pakistan will defend holy cities with or without agreement: Khawaja Asif (16 Sep 2026) (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629708/pakistan-will-defend-holy-cities-with-or-without-agreement-khawaja-asif - Saudi Arabia has shut the East-West crude oil pipeline. Why does this matter? (14 Sep 2026) (CNN): https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/14/economy/saudi-east-west-pipeline-shut-oil-market How to cite: "Fuel covered for September and October, minister says, as Saudi pipeline stays shut", Searchable, 17 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/pakistan-fuel-stocks-september-october-saudi-pipeline-shut