‘We’re not like India’: Pakistan minister admits to no strategic oil reserves, says stocks for only '5-7 days’
Pakistan's petroleum minister Musadik Malik admitted the country lacks strategic oil reserves and relies only on commercial stocks that last five to seven days. This contrasts with India, which holds about 60–70 days of reserves and can access them quickly to stabilize prices during global shocks. Pakistan's limited reserves and IMF commitments have constrained its ability to respond to rising fuel prices, leading to public unrest and economic strain.
- ▪Pakistan does not have strategic oil reserves and only maintains commercial crude stocks for five to seven days.
- ▪India holds an estimated 60–70 days of combined strategic and commercial oil reserves, allowing it to better manage global price fluctuations.
- ▪Pakistan's fuel pricing policies are constrained by IMF agreements, limiting its ability to provide broad subsidies.
- ▪A 42.7% fuel price hike in Pakistan triggered widespread protests, prompting a partial rollback by the government.
- ▪India has maintained stable fuel prices despite global disruptions, supported by its reserve capacity and fiscal flexibility.
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‘We’re not like India’: Pakistan minister admits to no strategic oil reserves, says stocks for only '5-7 days’He went on to reveal that Islamabad has crude stocks for just “five to seven days”, in contrast, India can tap into its reserves “with just a single signature.”Published on: May 02, 2026 1:39 PM ISTWritten by Priyanshu PriyaShare viaCopy link Pakistan has acknowledged energy vulnerability as global crude prices surge, admitting it does not have “strategic oil reserves like India” to cushion the blow.
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