PM orders emergency readiness to tackle potential fuel shortage issues

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant institutions to take emergency measures to deal with a potential fuel shortage in Pakistan arising from the international petroleum crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the directive came during a high-level review meeting chaired by the prime minister to assess the regional situation and the implementation of fuel conservation and austerity measures.

The meeting was briefed on the progress made in enforcing cost-saving initiatives and reducing fuel consumption.

During the briefing, officials informed the participants that the country currently holds adequate stocks of petroleum products to meet its requirements and that implementation of the prime minister’s earlier directives is being ensured.

Addressing the meeting, the prime minister instructed the minister for petroleum to further enhance efforts to improve Pakistan’s petroleum import supply chain while directing all relevant institutions to remain fully prepared for emergency response measures until the situation stabilises.

Earlier, the meeting was told that arrangements had been completed by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to provide special connectivity for government departments to facilitate work-from-home operations through the official e-office system.

Participants were informed that the overall situation is being closely monitored and a record of petroleum products is being maintained to ensure that any irregularities are immediately identified. It was also stated that the Intelligence Bureau would submit monitoring reports on the implementation of all measures.

The meeting was further told that cabinet members had voluntarily decided not to draw their salaries, while reductions in fuel usage by government departments were already yielding positive results.

Sources said that these austerity measures would help provide relief to the public in the current situation. The participants were also informed that the country has sufficient stocks of medicines to meet domestic needs.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad and other senior officials.

Reporter Awais Kiyani