Citing mounting threats to economic security and maritime trade, the Pakistan Navy has launched ‘Operation Muhafizul Bahr.’
The mission aims to counter “multidimensional threats to national shipping” triggered by rising regional piracy and supply chain disruptions stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan’s military, the decision comes in response to an “evolving regional maritime security environment and potential disruptions to critical sea lanes.”
The initiative is designed to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and safeguard vital sea lines of communication.
“Pakistan Navy escort operations are being conducted in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation,” the ISPR said, adding that the Navy is “fully cognisant” of the situation and is actively monitoring merchant vessels to ensure safe transit.
At present, naval ships are escorting two merchant vessels.
The stakes are high for Islamabad. Facing a severe fuel crisis, with roughly 28 days of reserves remaining, the Navy’s intervention is seen as a critical effort to avert a supply-driven economic collapse.
The move follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which an estimated 90–95% of Pakistan’s maritime energy trade passes.
The domestic impact of these disruptions is already evident. Local petrol prices have recently surged by more than 20%, with retail petrol reaching PKR 321.17 ($1.15) per litre and diesel climbing to PKR 335.86 ($1.20).
As Brent Crude briefly rose above $100 per barrel, headline inflation climbed to 7%. Amid these volatile market conditions, the State Bank of Pakistan has kept its policy rate unchanged at 10.5%, warning that the monthly oil import bill could rise to $600 million.
The ISPR concluded by reaffirming the Navy’s readiness: “Pakistan Navy remains fully prepared to respond to emerging maritime security challenges and is committed to ensuring the safety of national shipping and regional maritime security.”
