LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that sufficient quantities of
petroleum products were available in the country to meet national needs due to timely government decisions.
He made the remarks while chairing a review meeting on the implementation of fuel conservation and austerity measures amid the prevailing regional situation.
The Prime Minister said providing relief to the public remained the government’s top priority and added that maximum possible relief had been extended to citizens over the past three weeks. He said the federal government allocated Rs 125 billion through savings and development budget cuts to prevent an increase in oil prices and protect the public from global tensions.
Participants urged citizens to support the government’s conservation campaign by avoiding unnecessary travel and using teleconferencing at workplaces.
The Prime Minister directed provincial governments to facilitate motorcycle and rickshaw owners in registering vehicles in their own names to digitize records and enable owners to benefit from future relief programs. He also instructed authorities to enhance coordination with Chief Secretaries of all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials briefed participants on the progress of austerity and conservation measures. They said the demand and supply of petroleum products, along with the entire supply chain, were being closely monitored through a digital dashboard, and arrangements for petrol imports for April had already been finalised.
They added that, unlike several other countries, Pakistan was not facing long queues or mismanagement in fuel supply, reflecting effective government handling. Officials said timely decisions had helped maintain stability in the oil situation.
A briefing was also given on a proposed fuel support program for motorcycle riders and rickshaw drivers, including a dedicated mobile application.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Dr Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Owais Khan Leghari, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other senior officials attended the meeting via video link.