By Abdul Ghani

Escalating regional tensions have disrupted Pakistan’s international trade, with commercial shipping between Pakistan and GCC countries suspended and exports to the region transported by air only in July 2026, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan. The disruption follows a rapid deterioration in maritime security after the breakdown of an interim truce between the United States and Iran in July 2026, which has deeply impacted global shipping networks. The waterway normally sees 70 to 80 commercial ship crossings a day, but traffic has fallen to as few as six vessels a day, leaving hundreds of ships anchored outside the strait.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that vessels must seek its permission to transit the waterway and has enforced the stance with kinetic threats. Maritime security has also deteriorated along the Red Sea, where Houthi militants recently attacked Saudi oil facilities, prompting threats against Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The document also highlights the impact of the conflict with Afghanistan on Pakistan’s international trade, resulting in a decline of $1.03 billion in exports and $150 million in transit earnings during the October-June period.

Credit: INP-WealthPk