[6] In response, the Government of Pakistan approached private sector companies operating in the country, including Shell Pakistan and Esso, proposing a joint venture to build a refinery in Karachi.

[6] The private companies, seeking to protect their profits from oil imports, agreed to the government's proposal as an alternative to accepting the Soviet offer.

[6] The resulting complex, named Pakistani Oil Refinery, commenced operations in 1964.

It has a capacity of refining 47,000 barrels per day of crude oil into a range of petroleum products.

The refinery produces high speed diesel, furnace oil, motor spirit, Naphtha, kerosene, jet fuels and liquified petroleum gas.