- The Pakistan Airports Authority issued an official notice ordering foreign airlines to bring fuel for their return journey.
- Foreign airlines will get only a minimum amount of fuel at Pakistani airports.
- Pakistani airlines like PIA will continue to receive full fuel as needed.
- Airlines are now offloading even passenger luggage and cargo to carry extra fuel.
Pakistan is facing a serious jet fuel shortage at its major airports. The Gulf War disrupted the supply of Jet A-1, which is the fuel used to power commercial aircraft. As a result, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued an official notice called a NOTAM (a Notice to Airmen) on March 13 to manage the little remaining fuel.
The notice, issued under code A0147/26, applies to Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. It instructs airlines to carry maximum fuel on their way into Pakistan, so they do not need to rely on local supply for the return journey.
Foreign airlines arriving in Pakistan now receive only the minimum quantity of fuel inside the country. Pakistani airlines, on the other hand, continue to receive their full fuel requirements.
What This Looks Like on the Ground
The impact is already visible. A foreign airline flight that departed Karachi for Doha on March 25 had to make an unscheduled stop in Muscat just to refuel before continuing its journey.
Carrying extra fuel on board adds weight to the aircraft. To stay within safe weight limits, foreign airlines have started offloading passenger baggage and cargo to make room for the additional fuel they must now carry. This means passengers on some flights risk their luggage not making it onto the plane.
Concerns about the fuel supply disruption come just days after Pakistan raised jet fuel prices by Rs 154 per liter. Prices surged from Rs 188.93 to a record Rs 342.37 per liter, a rise of about 82%.
The NOTAM remains valid until March 31, though authorities may extend it if supply issues persist. Given that the Gulf War shows no signs of ending soon, an extension appears likely.
