Today, crude oil — extracted from underground reservoirs and seabeds — remains a dominant source of global energy.

Pakistan’s dependence on imported oil is an economic vulnerability that demands a long-term shift towards energy security and diversification.

The core issue is not merely high oil prices; it is the absence of a coherent long-term energy transition strategy.

Ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt as volatility in global oil prices unsettles not just Pakistan but even advanced economies. For import-dependent countries like Pakistan, however, the consequences are particularly severe. Each upward swing in petroleum prices translates into inflationary pressure, fiscal strain and a widening current account deficit. The issue is no longer cyclical; it is structural.

Oil has become as indispensable to modern life as water. The expansion of automobile ownership, rapid urbanisation and the growth of logistics networks have made petroleum central to mobility and economic activity. In Pakistan, what was once a luxury — private car ownership — has become commonplace. Congested roads in major cities reflect not merely demographic growth but a deeper dependence on fossil........

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