Govt rubbishes fake notification on suspension of port entries amid Middle East crisis

The government on Thursday rejected a fake notification circulating online that claimed the Cabinet Division had ordered the temporary suspension of all port entries across Pakistan due to security concerns until March 10.

“The notification is fabricated. No such order has been issued by the Cabinet Division or the Ministry of Maritime Affairs,” the ministry said in a statement.

The clarification was issued in the wake of rising tensions in the Middle East, as Iran halted shipments and cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Tehran that killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Since then, Iran has targeted multiple US bases in surrounding Gulf States, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, causing multiple countries to temporarily shut their airspace.

The fake notification, dated March 4, claimed that an emergency meeting had been convened by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs “in view of the prevailing security situation”, though it did not specify any particular threat or expand on the alleged concerns.

It also falsely stated that entries at several key ports, including Karachi, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara and Jiwani, would be temporarily suspended.

Following the disruption, Saudi Arabia assured Pakistan on Wednesday of oil supplies through the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed that Saudi Arabia had pledged to support Pakistan’s energy needs. In a meeting with Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, the two discussed a range of bilateral issues, focusing on strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

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During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to Pakistan, assuring that oil supplies through the Port of Yanbu would remain secure. Malik said that one vessel had been approved to sail from Pakistan to the Port of Yanbu to lift crude oil for the country. He also expressed hope that future shipments would be prioritised for Pakistan.