- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:44 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Pakistan has zero strategic petroleum reserves, admits Minister.
- India maintains 60-70 days of robust oil reserves.
- Establishing strategic reserves faces hundreds of millions dollar cost.
Pakistan Petroleum Minister has admitted India is getting at the global level at a time when the whole world is facing a massive energy crisis following the Iran-US War. Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ali Malik said Pakistan is currently grappling with a severe energy security crisis as global tensions in West Asia threaten supply chains, and added a startling disparity in regional energy preparedness. He admitted Pakistan possesses zero strategic petroleum reserves and blamed it as the major reason for the current crisis in the country.
Pak Petroleum Minister exposes his own government
In an interview with Samaa TV, Malik said, "We don't have any strategic oil reserves. We only have commercial reserves. We have crude worth five to seven days. And the refined product with OMCs can only last 20-21 days. We are not like India, which has 60-70 days of reserves and can release them with just a single signature."
🇵🇰🗣🛢No Petroleum Reserves for Even a Single Day, says #Pakistan’s Federal Minister for #Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik,
— Mahalaxmi Ramanathan (@MahalaxmiRaman) April 28, 2026
❗️Adding that the country is not like 🇮🇳 #India with 60–70 days of reserves that can be released with a single signature, and warning that people still do not… pic.twitter.com/RcwHbH1YxX
A fragile supply chain
While many nations maintain state-controlled stockpiles to weather geopolitical shocks, Malik noted that Pakistan relies entirely on limited commercial stocks. The current inventory levels are precarious. He said Pakistan has only 5 to 7 days of commercial reserves of crude oil.
ALSO READ: Pakistan Cancels Republic Day Parade Amid Nationwide Oil Emergency Due To Middle East War
21 days of stock held by Oil Marketing Companies
Malik contrasted this "vulnerable" position with India's robust infrastructure, noting that New Delhi maintains 60 to 70 days of reserves that can be operationalised with a "single signature." India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) currently have a capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes, providing a significant shield against market volatility.
Cost of preparedness
The Minister disclosed that while the government has received a comprehensive roadmap from an independent consultant on establishing strategic reserves, the plan remains stalled. The primary hurdle is the steep financial requirement, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, a difficult sum for the cash-strapped economy to mobilise.
Geopolitical pressure and public impact
The ongoing Iran-US conflict and risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have heightened Islamabad's urgency. Although the government has announced long-term plans to build a 90-day reserve, the immediate focus remains on managing extreme price volatility. Malik pointed out that while Dubai crude has historically avoided the USD 170-per-barrel mark, the current market is unpredictably erratic.