Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review measures aimed at ensuring economic stability and providing relief to the public in light of rising global tensions.
The prime minister said consultations are ongoing on further steps to provide relief to citizens given the evolving global situation. He noted that timely decisions taken by the government have ensured the availability of adequate petroleum products across the country.
He said economic stability and relief for the people remain the government’s top priorities, adding that all measures are being taken with both immediate public relief and long-term economic stability in mind.
The prime minister stated that national-level austerity and savings measures have already been implemented, while further initiatives are under consideration. He added that Pakistan is prepared to deal with any situation arising from ongoing global tensions.
According to the briefing presented during the meeting, the continuous supply of petroleum products has been ensured due to decisions taken by a committee formed in time to address the changing global environment.
The prime minister had already directed that a third-party audit be conducted to ensure the implementation of all austerity and cost-saving measures introduced by the government.
He also instructed petroleum distribution companies to ensure the sale of fuel at government-notified prices and to maintain transparency in the process.
Officials briefed the meeting on the country’s existing petroleum reserves, imports required to meet fuel demand, and measures aimed at providing relief to the public in view of global developments.
The government is closely monitoring the sale of petroleum products to ensure continuous availability and compliance with officially notified prices, the briefing stated.
A feature has also been added to the Pak App, allowing consumers to report fuel shortages or overpricing anywhere in the country so that authorities can take immediate action.
Participants in the meeting appreciated the prime minister’s decision last Friday not to increase petroleum prices further.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, and senior officials from relevant institutions.
