Pakistan is expected to receive two liquefied natural gas shipments from Qatar, offering some relief from supply pressures and reducing the need to purchase costly cargoes from the international spot market.
According to Bloomberg, one vessel carrying Qatari LNG, the Al Marrouna, crossed the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week and is expected to reach Pakistan by Thursday. Another tanker carrying Qatari gas is also expected to pass through the strategic waterway in the coming days before heading to Pakistan.
The arrival of the cargoes is particularly important as Pakistan has been struggling to secure LNG supplies amid geopolitical disruptions and elevated spot-market prices. The deliveries could allow the country to avoid more expensive emergency purchases.
Supply conditions, however, remain difficult. Pakistan did not award a tender for a September LNG cargo on Tuesday after receiving no offers from suppliers, indicating continued tightness in the international market.
Pakistan relies heavily on long-term LNG agreements with Qatar to secure relatively stable and affordable gas supplies. That dependence became more significant after renewed hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz disrupted regional energy shipments.
A Qatari LNG cargo scheduled for Pakistan in July 2026 was cancelled following the disruption, while Qatar declared force majeure. The interruption forced Pakistan to seek emergency LNG supplies and consider alternative fuels as well as more expensive spot-market cargoes.
The expected arrival of the latest Qatari shipments therefore provides immediate relief, but continuing instability around the Strait of Hormuz leaves Pakistan’s LNG supply exposed to further disruption.
