ISLAMABAD/BAKU: Azerbaijan’s state energy company Socar is ready to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan as soon as it receives a request from Islamabad, the company told Reuters on Tuesday, as Islamabad seeks spot cargoes to ease a growing energy shortfall.

Socar said a ⁠framework agreement signed in 2025 between Socar Trading and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) allows the Pakistani buyer to purchase LNG cargoes directly under an accelerated procedure.

“Socar is ready to provide LNG to Pakistan as soon as PLL submits a corresponding request,” the company ⁠said in response to Reuters questions.

SOCAR did not say whether such a request had already been made, when a first delivery could ⁠take place, or whose LNG would be supplied under the agreement.

Pakistan, which relies heavily on gas ⁠for its energy needs, remains vulnerable to declining domestic production and swings ⁠in global LNG prices amid the supply disruptions related to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

A day earlier, authorities in the Petroleum Division had informed that the import of four LNG cargoes from Qatar had been halted due to Iran’s renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, The News reported.

A logo of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR on a building in Geneva, Switzerland, March 18, 2026. — Reuters
A logo of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR on a building in Geneva, Switzerland, March 18, 2026. — Reuters
Pakistan State Oil (PSO), which was arranging the import of four LNG cargoes stranded in the strait under two agreements with QatarEnergy, has communicated via email to the Petroleum Division that the imports have been suspended until the situation caused by the closure of Strait of Hormuz stabilises.

Earlier, Pakistan had requested Qatar to provide four cargoes out of the 8-10 that were loaded and stranded due to the ongoing conflict, to be delivered once Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Tehran closed the strait again after determining that the US naval blockade had not ended and was instead continuing what it described as acts of piracy.

Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, speaking to The News two days ago, stated that QatarEnergy currently has 8-10 loaded LNG vessels available and Pakistan is seeking to secure as much volume as possible from these cargoes in the short term.

He added that once QatarEnergy lifts its force majeure conditions, Pakistan is expected to resume a more regular schedule of LNG imports.

Following an attack on a Qatar LNG facility, QatarEnergy declared force majeure on March 4. Since then, Pakistan has been deprived of imported gas supplies. The Power Division currently requires 400mmcfd (million cubic feet per day) of gas for electricity generation to bridge the gap and eliminate loadshedding.

By Nazir Siyal / DNA

KARACHI: Dr Hamid Khan Al-Mashriqi, an International Strategic Affairs expert and analyst has categorically said that the Pakistan’s role in maintaining regional and global peace has been described as significant and potentially “historic,” particularly in the context of ongoing ceasefire efforts and diplomatic engagement.

Analysts noted that sustaining the current two-week ceasefire could be a major success, he said with the possibility of its extension to a longer duration as negotiations continue he added.

Dr. Hamid Al Mashriqi emphasized that such talks are unlikely to conclude quickly, but continuity of dialogue remains essential for lasting peace.

Dr Al-Mashriqi highlighted that Pakistan is playing a constructive role in ensuring the continuity of peace in the region and beyond. Dr Hamid stressed that international stakeholders should support these efforts rather than engage in negative narratives or rivalries.

Commenting on leadership dynamics in South Asia,  Al-Mashriqi argued that regional stability should take precedence over individual ambitions, with Pakistan’s leadership under Shehbaz Sharif being positioned as a proponent of peace and cooperation.

He said the role of Asim Munir was also termed “historic,” with analysts stating that his strategic engagement has contributed to stabilizing tensions and encouraging diplomatic pathways, including influencing regional actors toward restraint.

By Nazir Siyal / DNA

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi held a meeting with Iranian Consul General Akbar Isa Zadeh at Governor House, where discussions were held on bilateral relations, the ongoing regional situation and other matters of mutual importance.

The Iranian Consul General congratulated the Governor on assuming office and expressed his best wishes.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sindh stated that Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations are based on cultural, social, historical and religious foundations. He said that the Muslim Ummah, particularly the people of Pakistan, stand with their Iranian brothers. He expressed willingness to enhance trade and attract Iranian investment, adding that the completion of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project is a critical need of the time. He also noted that the Prime Minister and Field Marshal are playing a full role day and night for peace in the region.

The Iranian Consul General paid tribute to the Prime Minister and Field Marshal for their peace efforts. He expressed desire to complete the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project as soon as possible. The meeting underscored the commitment of both sides to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional stability.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 21: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid Tuesday paid tribute to Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his death anniversary, saying his vision continues to guide the nation’s collective struggle and direction.

In her message, she said that the great thinker of Islam, Allama Muhammad Iqbal had envisioned a dignified and sovereign Pakistan.
She noted that Iqbal’s concept of Pakistan reflects a welfare state based on justice and equality.
Senator Khalid said that the philosophy of the Poet of the East still determines the course of national efforts, adding that Iqbal awakened the Muslims of the subcontinent to the idea of a separate homeland.
She further highlighted that Iqbal’s message revolves around selfhood (khudi), action, and unity, which remain essential for building a strong, prosperous, and self-reliant Pakistan.
Emphasizing the relevance of Iqbal’s teachings, she said the country must strive to transform into a true welfare state in light of his ideas.
She added that Iqbal guided the Muslim Ummah towards awareness and self-reliance, while his philosophy continues to inspire hope and courage among the youth.

ISLAMABAD, APR 21 /DNA/ – The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has released a new policy brief highlighting a rare and time-sensitive opportunity for Pakistan to reposition its ports as competitive regional and global trade hubs amid ongoing disruptions in Gulf shipping routes. Authored by Dr. Nadia Hassan, Assistant Professor at PIDE, the brief titled Capitalizing on Conflict: Reimagining the Ports of Pakistan Amid Gulf War argues that while Pakistan is already benefiting from diverted cargo flows, the real challenge lies in converting these temporary gains into sustained economic advantage through urgent and coordinated reforms.

With nearly one-fifth of global trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz, recent tensions and its closure in March 2026 triggered a major rerouting of international shipping away from traditional hubs such as Dubai’s Jebel Ali and Oman’s Salalah. Pakistan’s ports—Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Gwadar—located outside the direct conflict zone yet in close proximity to key shipping lanes, have emerged as viable alternatives, placing the country at the center of a rapidly shifting maritime landscape.

The scale of this shift has been significant. Karachi Port alone handled approximately 11,000 transshipment containers and recorded 133 vessel calls in March, surpassing its total transshipment activity for the previous year. Port Qasim absorbed nearly 25 percent of redirected cargo and processed over 4,000 TEUs in a single day, registering an extraordinary 2,302 percent increase in transshipment activity. Gwadar Port, though still developing, marked its entry into the regional transshipment network by berthing its first vessel, signaling strong long-term potential as a deep-sea hub at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

Despite these encouraging trends, PIDE cautions that the current gains reflect a temporary window rather than a structural transformation. Karachi’s urban congestion and limited expansion capacity, Port Qasim’s upstream constraints, and Gwadar’s underdeveloped ecosystem all pose serious challenges to sustaining this momentum. Without timely policy action, Pakistan risks losing this opportunity as quickly as it emerged.

A comparative analysis with leading regional ports underscores the gap. Jebel Ali handles approximately 15.5 million TEUs annually compared to Karachi’s 2.65 million, while its Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index stands at 775 against Karachi’s 310 and Port Qasim’s 131. Vessel turnaround times at Salalah range between 10 to 20 hours, whereas Pakistan’s ports report inconsistent performance. Similarly, Pakistan’s ports operate with only 5 to 6 ship-to-shore cranes compared to 27 to 29 in leading hubs, and berth occupancy ratios remain below the global optimal range of 50 to 70 percent.

The brief emphasizes that these shortcomings are not merely infrastructural but also institutional and operational. Successful ports like Jebel Ali integrate logistics, industrial zones, and free trade ecosystems to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, while Pakistan’s ports function largely as isolated nodes with weak hinterland connectivity and limited digitalization. Although Pakistan enjoys a cost advantage in labor, this is offset by high port charges, procedural delays, and a semi-skilled workforce.

To address these challenges, PIDE proposes a focused reform agenda including infrastructure modernization, operational automation, expansion of container handling capacity, and integration of ports with export processing and logistics zones. The brief also calls for strategic partnerships with global shipping lines, rationalization of procedural costs, and investment in workforce development to meet modern maritime standards. These measures are essential to transform conflict-driven cargo diversion into sustained trade growth and long-term economic resilience.

PIDE concludes that Pakistan’s geographic advantage alone is insufficient to secure a lasting position in global trade. The current geopolitical disruption presents a defining test of policy readiness and institutional capacity. With decisive action, Pakistan can transform its ports from underutilized assets into dynamic engines of commerce and connectivity. Without it, a historic opportunity may be lost.