Pakistan to increase oil imports from Russia amid Strait of Hormuz crisis

Pakistan will increase its oil imports from Russia due to the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, according to Pakistan's Ambassador to Moscow, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, in an interview with TASS.

Tirmizi said demand for Russian energy resources has increased as the situation in the strategic waterway — through which about 22% of the world's oil passes, along with liquefied natural gas and fertilizers — has become a growing concern for importers.

"We produce about 10% of the energy resources we need ourselves, while the rest comes from the Persian Gulf countries," the ambassador told TASS. "Therefore, a serious crisis has arisen, and we began to look for alternatives."

He said that Pakistan is now considering building a pipeline that would link it with Russia and Turkmenistan, part of a broader effort to diversify its energy supplies. "The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become a worrying signal for a number of countries, including Pakistan," he said. "Russia is, of course, a major supplier of both oil and energy resources. So we are now also discussing the possibility of building a pipeline from Central Asia and Russia at some point."

The envoy's remarks come as Islamabad deepens its engagement with Moscow. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Russia in the near future, Tirmizi confirmed. "We are working on this," the ambassador said when asked about a possible date. "The prime minister has great respect for President Putin and is very much looking forward to this meeting. He is eager for this visit. The dates will be announced once they are finalized."

The two leaders met twice last year — first in Beijing and then in Ashgabat. Tirmizi described the upcoming visit as part of a wider effort to connect the Eurasian space, with Russia and Pakistan as key nodes. "Both Pakistan and Russia are part of the Eurasian space, whose northern points are Belarus, Moscow, and Murmansk, and whose southern points are Karachi, Gwadar, Pasni, and Jiwani," he said.

The ambassador also highlighted the historical dimension of the bilateral relationship, noting that Russia has been Pakistan's partner in development for decades. "Russia built industrial plants, power stations, and hydroelectric plants in Pakistan," he said, adding that Islamabad wishes to continue this cooperation. Currently, about 1,300 Pakistani students are studying in Russia, and Pakistan sees Russia as an important source for training future doctors and scientists.

Tirmizi also touched on the broader regional situation, describing the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as the most pressing issue in negotiations around Iran. He noted that about 30 million expatriates live in the Persian Gulf region, with Indians making up the largest group, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Sri Lankans, and others. "Large volumes of remittances flow from the Persian Gulf countries to other nations," he said, expressing hope that the region's interconnected interests would help bring a peaceful resolution to the current tensions.

Key Claims

  • Pakistan will increase oil imports from Russia due to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz (per Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, as reported by TASS).
  • Demand for Russian energy resources has risen amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis (according to the ambassador).
  • Pakistan produces only about 10% of the energy resources it needs domestically.
  • The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is the main topic in negotiations around Iran, according to Tirmizi.
  • About 30 million expatriates live in the Persian Gulf region, and large volumes of remittances flow from there to other nations.
  • Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Russia soon; the two leaders met twice last year.