Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet on Wednesday, the prime minister said tensions in the region had caused international oil prices to rise sharply.
“Pakistan is playing its role as before in restoring peace in the region,” he said, referring to the country’s recent diplomatic engagements with Iran and other regional stakeholders, as well as discussions under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Last month, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, visited Iran as part of Pakistan’s efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran.
In October, Munir, the Saudi defence minister and the Turkish intelligence chief also met senior Iranian officials in Tehran under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Last week, the military’s spokesperson said Pakistan remained “cautiously optimistic” about its mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran.
Government seeks to limit fuel price burden
PM Shehbaz said the government had planned to increase fuel prices by Rs15 on Friday. However, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik held discussions with oil refineries to persuade them to absorb the additional burden through their windfall profits.
“We will not let a common man bear this burden,” the prime minister said.
Speaking about the fuel subsidy scheme launched in September, he said it would continue until the end of December.
The government has spent Rs28 billion on the scheme so far, he said, adding that it was operating successfully and transparently under the monitoring of the Intelligence Bureau.
The prime minister also said the government had ended what he described as the “era of the LPG mafia” and was now arranging liquefied petroleum gas supplies through a transparent system.
He said imported LPG would be auctioned in lots to encourage competition, with the government using the resulting profits to provide subsidies to consumers.
Rs160bn development package for KP finalised
PM Shehbaz said the federal government had finalised a proposed Rs160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The package was announced following the imposition of governor’s rule in the province last month.
“Security is our number one, two and three priority in KP,” he said, adding that counterterrorism operations were continuing in the region.
He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies, the provincial government and the federal administration would help eliminate terrorism.
“With the efforts of law enforcement agencies, the new government in KP and the support of the federal government, we will crush the head of terrorism, and it will be a huge achievement for us,” he said.
Government prepares for winter gas demand
The prime minister said the federal government was holding meetings around the clock to ensure adequate supplies of LPG, liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrol and natural gas ahead of winter.
He said the government was facing challenges due to the closure of maritime routes but was working to meet the country’s energy requirements.
LPG supplies have been disrupted following the closure of Iranian border crossings, leading to shortages in Pakistan. As a result, gas cylinders have reportedly been sold in the open market at twice the official price.
LPG is commonly used as fuel for rickshaws and for cooking, particularly by households that do not have access to the piped natural gas network.
