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ISLAMABAD: Panic buying spread across parts of India on Thursday as motorists and households crowded fuel stations and gas agencies, with local media reporting long queues, &ldquo;no stock&rdquo; signs and pumps running dry across the country.&nbsp; The Economic Times said rumors of shortages and possible price increases had triggered unusually heavy demand, overwhelming local supply chains.&nbsp; A post on X by Indian International Relations expert, Ashok Swain, captured that anxiety vividly, showing vast lines of people, hundreds of motorbikes and dozens of cars packed around a fuel station.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036796817896100275&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Behind the scenes, the crisis runs deeper than isolated queues.&nbsp; The media reported this week that India is grappling with its worst gas shortage in decades after conflict-linked disruption around the Strait of Hormuz slowed or stranded ships carrying LPG, crude oil and liquefied natural gas.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036920565433303103&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 970px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>India imported about 60% of its LPG requirements last year, with roughly 90% of those imports coming from the Middle East, leaving the country highly exposed to the regional shock. Traders and data cited by Reuters said India&rsquo;s LPG imports in March could fall by nearly half.&nbsp; The government has responded with emergency steps, including diverting LPG away from industry to protect household supply and ordering the strengthening of natural gas infrastructure. The media also reported that India has been loading LPG onto empty ships already stranded in the Gulf to bring supplies home faster.&nbsp; At the same time, India is facing additional stress after Iranian strikes damaged Qatari energy infrastructure, raising the risk of lower LNG supply from one of India&rsquo;s key suppliers.&nbsp; The impact has extended beyond household consumers. The media reported that India has prioritized cooking gas supplies for homes, decreasing availability for commercial users, while reports said the government had partially restored commercial LPG allocations and offered states extra supply to ease pressure.&nbsp; Even so, local media on Thursday continued to report long lines, disrupted sales, and shortages at some outlets as authorities tried to contain the fallout.

India

Panic buying spread across parts of India as fuel stations and gas agencies saw long queues and shortages, while a wider Middle East-linked supply disruption hit LPG and oil flows, forcing emergency government measures and exposing the country’s dependence on imported energy.

Fuel panic deepens India’s economic strain

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, said Thursday that India is experiencing &quot;extreme frustration&quot; over Pakistan&#39;s increasing diplomatic relevance on the global stage, as Islamabad positions itself as a key mediator in the ongoing Middle East war. Speaking at a press conference, the information minister said the purpose of the briefing was to address ongoing international developments and Pakistan&#39;s role in resolving them. He said that Pakistan was a responsible actor whose mediation efforts have drawn broad international acknowledgment. &quot;There is extreme frustration, extreme anxiety,&quot; he said of India&#39;s reaction to Pakistan&#39;s rising profile. &quot;As they become irrelevant, they have been incensed at Pakistan&#39;s enhanced role, at Pakistan&#39;s relevance and significance.&quot; He attributed the diplomatic gains to &ldquo;a strong partnership&rdquo; between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Tarar credited their efforts at the international level, which the entire world has acknowledged. The minister said even India&#39;s own media has criticized its government over the contrast. He noted that Indian commentators there have acknowledged that Pakistan has emerged as a stronger and more relevant voice in world affairs in comparison to India. Tarar said the international community has accepted and recognized Pakistan&#39;s efforts at every level, a reality he said is now beyond dispute. He stated that Pakistan&#39;s engagement at the United Nations Security Council would be remembered, citing the country&#39;s vocal stance on Palestine and its role with regards to Iran. He said Pakistan had navigated those positions carefully; by protecting strategic ties while engaging allied nations, Pakistan demonstrated a balanced foreign policy. The minister also pointed to Pakistan&#39;s economic recovery as part of its broader resurgence. He described the turnaround from near-default as a &quot;phenomenal&quot; reversal, one the entire world had taken note of. He said Pakistan&#39;s Federal Board of Revenue transformation model was presented at a World Bank meeting as a successful case study.

Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan Attaullah Tarar holding a press conference on March 26, 2026. (PTV News)

Foreign Affairs

Attaullah Tarar says Pakistan is a responsible country whose mediation efforts have drawn broad international acknowledgment.

Articles tagged with "Middle East Crisis"

Fuel panic deepens India’s economic strain

India ‘extremely frustrated’ by Pakistan’s rising diplomatic role on world stage: Information minister

Fuel panic deepens India’s economic strain