Pakistan among most vulnerable countries as Gulf shipping crisis jolts South Asia

WASHINGTON: Pakistan is among the countries that could face immediate and severe energy strain if disruptions in Gulf shipping persist, according to data from energy analytics firm Kpler, the US think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and international media.

Data published by the Financial Times shows that Pakistan receives 99 per cent of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in Gulf energy flows.

“Pakistan’s heavy reliance on LNG from Qatar and the UAE means any shock to supplies through the Strait of Hormuz would be felt very quickly,” the Financial Times reported, quoting market analytics.

Energy analytics firm Kpler highlighted that a large share of Asia’s LNG — including Pakistan’s — originates in the Gulf and transits the Hormuz chokepoint, now disrupted by the Middle East conflict.

“Pakistan and Bangladesh have limited storage and procurement flexibility, meaning disruption would likely trigger fast power-sector demand destruction rather than aggressive spot bidding,” Go Katayama, principal insight analyst at Kpler, was quoted as saying in international coverage.

With limited storage capacity and little procurement flexibility, analysts warned Pakistan would struggle to cushion even short-term supply shocks. For Pakistan, such disruption could mean immediate curtailment of gas supplies to power plants and energy-intensive industries, reviving the risk of widespread load-shedding and industrial slowdowns. Unlike larger economies with strategic reserves or diversified sourcing, Pakistan has limited room to absorb supply shocks.

In a study released on........

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