Pakistan's Attock Refinery Forced To Shut Down Operations Amid Road Closures Ahead Of US-Iran Peace Talks

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 15:13 IST

According to the report, the refinery is the only such facility in the region, catering to the fuel requirements of all of central and northern Punjab.

Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) — the only refinery in the north of Pakistan — has been forced to halt operations as authorities are undertaking the restoration of road closures under security measures ahead of the potential peace talks between the United States and Iran, the Dawn reported.

According to the report, the refinery is the only such facility in the region, catering to the fuel requirements of all of central and northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In a mandatory regulatory filing to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), ARL said the closure of the unit has significantly impacted crude oil receipts and product dispatches.

“We wish to inform you that due to the expected arrival of foreign delegates in Islamabad, there has been an abrupt suspension of oil tank lorry movement to and from ARL. This situation has adversely impacted crude oil receipts as well as product dispatches, directly affecting refinery operations," the statement read, as reported by the Dawn. 

“Concurrently, our crude oil receipts have also declined significantly due to the road closures. As a result, we have shut down our main crude distillation unit (HBU-I) of 32,400 barrels per stream day (BPSD) capacity till improvement of the current traffic restrictions", it added.

Peace Talks Hang By Thread

The naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz has impacted trade flows in Iran, emerging as a crucial sticking point in peace talks.

As the ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington hang by a thread, a White House official announced that a planned visit by Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad had been called off.

Earlier, Iran refused to negotiate under what it described as the “shadow of threats", with tensions escalating further after the capture of an Iranian vessel.

News world Pakistan's Attock Refinery Forced To Shut Down Operations Amid Road Closures Ahead Of US-Iran Peace Talks

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