ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister on Monday ordered sweeping austerity steps and expedited relief for low- and middle-income households as the country braces against fallout from the Gulf petroleum crisis, while officials said fuel supplies and medicine stocks remain adequate.
In a review meeting on the crisis’s impact, the premier said a 60 percent cut in government vehicle usage has been imposed with immediate effect and reductions to government spending and the development budget have begun, with savings redirected to support economically vulnerable groups.
اسلام آباد: 30 مارچ 2026۔
وزیراعظم کی زیر صدارت خلیجی بحران کے پیٹرولیم مصنوعات پر اثر، پاکستان میں موجودہ ذخائر اور عوامی ریلیف کے اقدامات پر جائزہ اجلاس آج اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہوا.
اجلاس میں گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ کمزور اور متوسط طبقے کے لوگوں کو مزید ریلیف… pic.twitter.com/qxNkkvoorb
— Samina Hafeez Malik (@SaminaHMalik) March 30, 2026
“In this hour of difficulty, the economically weaker segments will not be left alone,” he said, adding that repeated proposals to raise fuel prices have been rejected.
Officials reported that coordination with provincial authorities is being strengthened to speed up ownership registration for motorcycle and rickshaw operators so they can access potential relief quickly.
The meeting was briefed on current fuel reserves, future procurement arrangements and implementation of the Prime Minister’s fuel-conservation and austerity campaign, including an Intelligence Bureau audit of progress.
The government said an increased levy on high-octane fuel for large luxury vehicles has not affected jet fuel prices. It also emphasized use of digital systems to deliver relief directly to citizens. Delegates at the session included the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, federal ministers, special assistants and senior officials.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed continued diplomatic efforts to help regional stability and credited timely policy decisions for preventing any disruption in the country’s fuel supply. Suggestions on further steps to manage the situation were presented for follow-up action.
