As the ongoing US-Iran conflict continues to disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan plans to buy more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its main supplier, Qatar, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The government is finalising a strategy to purchase at least one LNG cargo from the spot market for delivery in July, and as many as six shipments for August, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The development comes as tensions escalate between Iran and the United States, which have stepped up attacks across the Gulf, limiting oil flows out of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is asking the Houthis to stand ready to shut the Red Sea export route. Meanwhile, rising temperatures in Pakistan have raised power demand, even as solar output to the grid fell, forcing the government to increase reliance on LNG-fired generation, Muhammad Awais Ashraf, research director at AKD Securities, told Bloomberg. The report said Pakistan’s bid to secure more LNG may indicate that Islamabad expects the conflict to drag on. Pakistan has struggled in recent years to secure LNG cargoes amid volatile global prices and supply disruptions, challenges that have intensified during the US-Iran conflict. By early July 2026, Pakistan purchased an LNG shipment for July 10-11 delivery from TotalEnergies SE for $17.37/mmbtu, its second spot purchase in two weeks, to replace Qatari supplies disrupted by renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) subsequently issued a tender for an urgent LNG cargo for July 15-16 delivery following the cancellation of a Qatari shipment.
Pakistan seeks more Qatar LNG cargoes
Published on: July 18, 2026 8:20 AM