Pakistan Eyes More Russian Oil as Hormuz Crisis Hits Energy Supply

Pakistan is moving to expand oil imports from Russia as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz intensifies pressure on energy supplies, according to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi. The remarks, made in an interview with Russia’s state news agency TASS and reported on Tuesday, place Islamabad’s energy security concerns at the centre of the widening Middle East crisis.

The envoy said Pakistan was looking for alternative sources because the country produces only a small share of its own energy needs and remains heavily dependent on imported fuel. Most of those imports traditionally arrive from the Persian Gulf, making the blockage or instability of key maritime routes a direct economic threat for Pakistani consumers, industry and public finances.

Tirmizi said demand for Russian energy had increased as countries exposed to the Hormuz crisis searched for more reliable supply channels. He described Russia as a major supplier of oil and broader energy resources, adding that Pakistan was considering options that could reduce vulnerability to shocks in the Gulf region.

In his comments to TASS, the ambassador said the crisis had become a warning sign for Pakistan and other countries that rely on the waterway. He also pointed to the possibility of future pipeline discussions involving Central Asia, Russia and South Asia, framing energy cooperation as part of a wider plan for regional connectivity through roads, rail links and economic exchanges.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints, carrying a major share of global oil shipments as well as liquefied natural gas, fertiliser inputs and other strategic commodities. Any prolonged disruption raises shipping costs, tightens supply and quickly feeds into fuel prices in import-dependent economies such as Pakistan.

Pakistan has already faced steep fuel-price pressure in recent weeks, with authorities raising petrol and high-speed diesel prices as international markets reacted to the crisis. The repeated increases have added to inflation concerns and placed fresh pressure on households, transport operators and businesses already managing elevated costs.

The issue also has a human and financial dimension for South Asia. Millions of expatriate workers from Pakistan and neighbouring countries live in Gulf states, and any escalation in the region could affect employment, remittances and travel. Pakistan’s remittance inflows remain a critical source of foreign exchange, making stability in the Gulf a matter of national economic interest.

For Islamabad, the renewed push toward Russian crude reflects a broader effort to diversify energy partnerships while keeping diplomatic channels open in a volatile region. The next steps will depend on pricing, transport logistics, refinery compatibility and the government’s ability to balance energy needs with foreign policy pressures as the Hormuz crisis continues to shape global markets.