Prime Minister orders to be strict against smuggling and illegal hoarding of petroleum products amid fuel shortage

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered authorities to take strict measures against smuggling and illegal hoarding of petroleum products, citing the evolving regional situation.

The development came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister assured participants at a high-level meeting that adequate fuel reserves were available to meet the country’s needs, and that future deals were also in the works.

President Zardari had stressed that amid pressures on oil and gas supply, rising energy costs and the changing regional environment, all possible measures must be taken to reduce the burden on the common man, particularly in essential goods and services.

Read: Without interested parties, the smart blocking proposal is discarded

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting to review the oil supply chain, conservation measures and measures aimed at ensuring efficiency in the current situation.

The meeting also examined proposals to provide relief to low-income segments facing economic pressures. The prime minister directed relevant ministries to finalize the recommendations in consultation with provincial governments and submit them for approval.

Stressing on strict enforcement, the prime minister instructed authorities to act firmly against those involved in smuggling and illegal storage of petroleum products, warning that no leniency would be shown in maintaining market stability.

He noted that over the past three weeks, the federal government had taken significant steps to support vulnerable segments and reiterated that efforts would continue to prioritize aid to the disadvantaged.

The prime minister said the government had provided aid to the public worth Rs 129 billion by reducing development spending and implementing austerity and savings measures to avoid a rise in fuel prices.

Read also: Sindh schools to operate as usual, closing only on Saturdays: Sharjeel Memon

Expressing satisfaction over the availability of fuel, Prime Minister Shehbaz said timely decisions by the federal government had ensured sufficient oil reserves to meet national needs. “Providing aid to the public remains our top priority,” he said.

The meeting was briefed on progress in implementing austerity measures. Officials informed participants that the demand and supply of petroleum products, as well as the entire supply chain, were being monitored regularly through a digital dashboard to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Among those present at the meeting were Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Tariq Bajwa, and senior government officials. officials.

Earlier this month, the government sharply increased diesel and gasoline prices by 55 rupees per liter, or 20 percent, citing the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted global supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to a two-year high.

In response to the crisis, both the federal and provincial governments had introduced a series of austerity measures, including an additional weekly holiday, a reduction in free gasoline allowances for ministers, restrictions on protocol vehicles, and proposals to provide subsidized fuel to students.

Last week, the government also approved a significant increase of Rs 200 per liter in the tax on high-octane fuel used in luxury vehicles, raising the total tax to Rs 300 per liter and the price to Rs 600 per liter.

Although the government was expected to raise oil prices further due to prevailing uncertainty, it had refrained from doing so on two occasions, stating that Rs 125 billion had been allocated through savings and development budget cuts to protect consumers against rising global oil prices.