Govt mulling purchasing cheaper oil, gas from Iran: Malik
Pakistan is exploring purchasing cheaper Iranian oil and gas following eased US sanctions, aiming for significant import cost savings despite potential refining challenges.
- Potential import cost savings from Iranian crude.
- Technical challenges for local refineries processing Iranian oil.
- Government's strategy for reducing domestic fuel prices.
KARACHI: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Sunday that Pakistan was “considering” purchasing cheaper Iranian oil and gas.
The option of sourcing Iranian crude oil supplies has again become available to Pakistan after a temporary easing of US sanctions on Tehran.
By availing this opportunity, Pakistan could source discounted crude and refine it locally to produce higher-value petroleum products.
Sourcing crude oil from Iran could generate import cost savings of USD170-340 million for Pakistan, assuming it imports 10-20 per cent of its total petroleum requirement at a discount, including freight savings.
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But, while industry experts say local refineries are technically capable of processing Iranian crude, commercial and operational challenges remain, particularly due to the high furnace oil yield and the absence of significant domestic demand for the fuel.
Against this backdrop, Malik said while speaking to the media in Lahore that Pakistan was now mulling sourcing cheaper crude oil from Iran.
He added that the government was “active regarding the reduction in oil prices”, noting that the rise in petrol and diesel prices had created difficulties for the entire nation.
But, that difficult phase had passed, he added. “Good times are coming now,” he said, further stating that the government had significantly reduced petrol and diesel prices.
Malik maintained that the reduction in local prices was more than the one in international oil prices.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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