A war in the Persian Gulf is plunging Pakistan into darkness

Conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts fuel shipments, triggering nationwide power cuts and exposing Pakistan's fragile energy dependence. | Contesto: cronaca

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• A war in the Persian Gulf is plunging Pakistan into darkness

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For the past week, daily blackouts have plunged homes and businesses across Pakistan into darkness, a direct consequence of escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf that has severed critical energy supply lines. In Lahore, the nation's cultural capital, resident Mohammad Rizwan described a routine of unpredictable power cuts, a scene replicated in cities from Karachi to Islamabad. The disruption stems from halted shipments of furnace oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), essential fuels for Pakistan's power generation, as maritime insurers withdraw coverage and tankers avoid the war-torn region. The immediate trigger is a sharp contraction in global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil transit chokeway. With insurance premiums soaring and vessel operators declaring force majeure, Pakistan's state-run power plants are running critically low on imported fuel. National grid data shows generation has fallen by nearly a third, forcing the Central Power Purchasing Agency to implement rolling blackouts, locally known as 'load-shedding', for up to 12 hours a day in some areas. This is not a new phenomenon for Pakistanis, but the severity and cause mark a dangerous escalation of a chronic problem. Pakistan's energy crisis is a structural vulnerability years in the making. The country relies on imports for approximately 40% of its power generation, with a significant portion of that fuel traversing the Persian Gulf. Decades of underinvestment in domestic energy infrastructure, coupled with a heavy debt burden on the power sector, have left the system acutely sensitive to global price shocks and supply disruptions. "We are hostage to geography and global markets," said a senior official at the Ministry of Energy, speaking on condition of anonymity. "When the Gulf sneezes, our lights go out." The economic and social implications are profound and immediate. Textile mills in Punjab, the backbone of the country's exports, are operating at reduced capacity, threatening export orders and jobs. Small businesses, from bakeries to tailoring shops, are hemorrhaging income. Hospitals are relying on backup generators, straining budgets already stretched...

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Categoria: cronaca