PM Shehbaz Sharif orders immediate fuel price relief

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the government to take urgent measures aimed at providing relief to consumers facing high fuel prices, with particular emphasis on reducing the cost of locally produced diesel.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the government to take urgent measures aimed at providing relief to consumers facing high fuel prices, with particular emphasis on reducing the cost of locally produced diesel.

The prime minister issued the directions during a meeting with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, where the government’s options for lowering fuel prices and providing immediate relief to the public were reviewed.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Climate Change Dr Musaddiq Malik and Member of the National Assembly Hamza Shehbaz.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the petroleum minister to take immediate action and engage with oil refineries to explore ways of reducing the prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel produced domestically.

The prime minister asked Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi without delay and hold discussions with representatives of the country’s oil refineries. He emphasized that the talks should focus on identifying practical measures that could bring down the cost of locally manufactured diesel and ultimately benefit consumers.

Shehbaz Sharif noted that a significant portion of the country’s diesel requirements is met through domestic refineries. In view of this, he said, there was a need to examine the pricing structure and engage directly with refinery operators to determine whether costs could be reduced.

The prime minister also instructed the petroleum minister to personally oversee the negotiations and complete the process at the earliest possible opportunity. He stressed that every feasible measure should be considered to provide maximum immediate relief to the public.

The government has been facing growing pressure to contain the impact of fuel prices on household budgets, transportation costs and overall inflation. Any reduction in diesel prices could also have wider implications for the cost of transporting goods and agricultural products, potentially easing pressure on prices across different sectors of the economy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was committed to exploring all available options to reduce the financial burden on citizens. He directed the relevant authorities to move quickly so that any possible reduction in fuel prices could be passed on to consumers without unnecessary delay.

The prime minister further emphasized the importance of communicating developments clearly to the public, saying that the government would continue working to identify opportunities for reducing fuel prices and delivering immediate economic relief.