More fuel-saving measures likely amid unstable Middle East situation: committee told | The Express Tribune

The government’s fuel conservation and austerity committee was informed on Thursday that further measures would have to be taken in the coming days to deal with the crisis arising from the unstable situation in the Middle East and its impact on fuel supply lines.

On March 6, the government sharply increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre, or 20%, marking the first in a series of hikes expected in the coming days due to the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict. The war has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to their highest level in two years.

Both federal and provincial governments have since introduced a range of austerity steps, including an additional weekly holiday, cutting free petrol allocations for ministers, limiting protocol vehicles, and proposing subsidised fuel for students

Read: PM Shehbaz says petroleum prices to remain unchanged despite increase in int’l market

The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the economic situation and availability of petroleum products in the country due to the Gulf situation.

A post on X by state broadcaster PTV News said the meeting’s members were informed the following: “In view of the unstable situation in the Middle East and the region, which could severely impact fuel supplies, further conservation measures will need to be taken in the coming days.”

The meeting’s members were informed that adequate petroleum product reserves were available to meet national requirements, with further arrangements being made. They were further told that the arrangements were made possible due to the prime minister’s timely practical measures and directives.

The participants were also told that “the entire situation is being monitored, and records of petroleum products are being maintained, so that any irregularity can be immediately identified and corrective measures taken.”

The government appealed to the public to adopt measures to save petrol and diesel in order to avoid the risk of petroleum product availability being affected in the coming days.

“It will be necessary to remain prepared for every possible situation and adopt a course of action in accordance with changing circumstances,” the post quoted the meeting’s communique as saying.

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It further recommended that carpooling should be adopted to save fuel and called for collective transportation. “Unnecessary travel should be avoided and movement should be restricted to save oil,” it added.

The meeting’s members were also informed about the progress on the implementation of austerity and conservation measures, including the fact that implementation of the directives issued by the premier was being ensured, with monitoring being carried out by the Intelligence Bureau.

In his remarks, the prime minister said all relevant departments should remain prepared for emergency measures until the situation improved.

“By adopting a policy of conservation and austerity, it has become possible to provide relief to the public,” he said. The premier also directed that a comprehensive plan should be formulated to address any emergency in coordination with the provinces.

The meeting was also attended by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, National Security Adviser Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, federal ministers and senior government officials.

The steep rise in fuel prices has intensified the cost of living, with citizens reporting increased transport fares and rising prices of essential goods.

Two days after the price hike, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing austerity measures in response to the Middle East crisis, had acknowledged that international petrol prices were expected to rise further but assured that the government would try to shield the public from the full impact.

As part of austerity measures, the federal government has cancelled the Pakistan Day parade scheduled for March 23, citing the ongoing oil crisis.

Earlier this week, the secretary of petroleum informed the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum that Pakistan currently holds crude oil reserves sufficient for 11 days, diesel for 21 days, petrol for 27 days, LPG for nine days, and jet fuel for 14 days.