Fuel supply remains stable, reserve sufficient, coordinated strategy to tackle economic pressure
ISLAMABAD:
A high-level consultative session at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday decided not to impose a nationwide smart lockdown following global fuel supply disruptions caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Monday saw a series of high-level meetings outlining the federal government’s comprehensive strategies to protect citizens from rising economic pressures, ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies and address regional security concerns amid growing global uncertainty.
One such meeting was chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, central federal ministers, all four provincial chief ministers and the leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and others.
The meeting focused on the national economy, energy security and the changing regional situation, with participants reviewing current challenges and formulating coordinated responses. Sources said proposals for a nationwide smart lockdown were also discussed.
The sources further said that the provincial administrations objected to the proposal after which the federal government decided not to implement such restrictions. They added that the president directed the authorities to speed up measures to provide relief to the public.
According to a handout from the president’s office, the meeting was briefed on rising energy prices, pressure on oil and gas supplies and ongoing regional developments. Zardari emphasized that no economically vulnerable segment would be left without support in difficult times.
The provinces reported active measures to control inflation, secure essential raw materials and minimize hardship to citizens. Participants agreed that a nationally coordinated strategy would ensure greater efficiency and institutional alignment across public authorities.
Earlier, the President held a separate meeting with the Prime Minister, which was attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA) and key ministers. They emphasized the need to manage domestic economic pressures while pursuing diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held detailed discussions on the country’s political, security and economic situation and agreed on a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address ongoing challenges, according to an official release.
Participants were informed that despite global and regional pressures, Pakistan’s fuel supply has remained uninterrupted, reserves are adequate and preparations for potential contingencies are underway.
Zardari stressed that all possible measures should be taken to reduce the impact of rising prices of essential goods and services while maximizing the relief of citizens. He also called for awareness campaigns to promote fuel saving and increased use of public transport.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired a session to assess petroleum availability, domestic reserves and public relief initiatives. Officials confirmed that timely government intervention had prevented any disruption in fuel supply despite volatility triggered by the Gulf crisis.
Detailed briefings covered conservation measures, future planning and current stock levels, with authorities confirming sufficient reserves to meet both immediate and future national requirements.
Coordination with provincial governments to speed up ownership registration for motorcycles and rickshaws was also highlighted, enabling a wider segment of transport users to benefit from targeted relief programmes.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of austerity during his ‘Austerity and Simplicity’ campaign, citing spending cuts, reductions in the development budget and grounding of 60% of official vehicles as steps to redistribute savings to public welfare.
Proposals to increase fuel prices had been repeatedly rejected, with the resulting savings diverted to cushion the impact of global energy costs on ordinary citizens, attendees were informed.
An Intelligence Bureau audit report confirmed compliance with austerity and fuel-saving measures, and officials stated that strict implementation was being maintained across relevant departments.
Officials also informed the meeting that taxes on high-octane fuel for luxury cars had been increased, but jet fuel prices remained unchanged to avoid further pressure on aviation and critical sectors. Adequate stocks of essential medicines were also confirmed.
On the diplomatic front, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the participants on Pakistan’s active international engagement, including recent contacts with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and updated them on his upcoming visit to Beijing.
After the meetings, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi reiterated that no decision had been taken to impose a smart lockdown due to differing views among the provinces. Emphasizing Pakistan’s role in promoting peace, he noted that the Muslim world looks to the country during crises and affirmed that Pakistan would not participate in any war.
(WITH ACCESS FROM APP)
