President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed state institutions to coordinate to ease the burden of rising prices of energy and essential goods on economically vulnerable citizens, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the government is striving to ensure maximum relief for the public amid constraints arising from the Middle East conflict.
In separate meetings, the two leaders reviewed the conditions arising the war, which has seen fuel costs spike and raised concerns over the global economy.
The prime minister, as well as the leaders of all four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, attended the meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr, which was chaired by the president. The participants were briefed on steps being taken by all governments to manage price pressures, ensure availability of essential supplies and mitigate the impact on public, enabling a coordinated national response.
In a statement, the President’s Secretariat said the meeting had also reviewed the broader regional situation and its potential effects on Pakistan’s security environment, economic outlook and food security. The participants were informed that timely decisions had ensured no disruptions to the fuel supply, adding adequate fuel stocks were available to meet the country’s current and future needs.
The meeting noted the prime minister had repeatedly rejected proposals to hike oil prices by utilizing funds saved through austerity measures for public relief. The government led the austerity measures, it said, with cuts to the development budget and the immediate grounding of 60% of official vehicles.
According to the statement, the president stressed on ensuring economically vulnerable people are not left without support. He advised coordinated decision-making, with alignment between economic management, energy planning, food security measures and security preparedness.
Zardari also sought greater public awareness efforts to encourage a reduction in fuel consumption, encourage the use of public transportation and promote shared mobility practices as part of a broader demand management approach.
Maximum relief
Earlier, chairing a meeting to review the impact of the war on petroleum products, as well as public relief measures, the prime minister vowed the government was working to provide maximum relief to the poor and middle-income classes. He said the government would deliver public relief directly to the masses by using digital systems.
Sharif maintained the government had slashed its expenditures and development budget, adding Pakistan was making vigorous diplomatic efforts to restore regional peace.
The participants of the meeting received a detailed briefing on the implementation of government measures for fuel conservation, future course of action, and the current stock position. Relevant officials said the center was coordinating with provincial governments to expedite the ownership registration of motorcycles and rickshaws to provide them with swift relief. An Intelligence Bureau audit report also examined the implementation of the prime minister’s fuel-saving and austerity campaign.
The meeting was told that sufficient stocks of fuel were available to meet the country’s needs, and arrangements were also being made for the future. Despite an increase in the levy on the high-octane fuel used in the luxury vehicles, the prices of the jet fuel remained unchanged. It was also informed that an adequate stock of medicines was available to fulfill the country’s requirements, and proposals regarding the future course of action were also presented to the meeting.