Examines the broader law and order situation, economic outlook and the energy sector; Prime Minister takes stock of food supply
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed the government to minimize the burden of prices of petroleum products to facilitate the common man.
According to a statement issued by the Presidential House on 10th, President Zardari met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik at Bhutto House, Naudero.
The Ministers of Finance and Petroleum briefed the President on economic indicators, the energy sector and government measures in response to rising prices for petroleum products.
President Asif Ali Zardari met the Ministers of Interior, Finance and Petroleum to discuss security, economic and energy challenges. He stressed on strengthening border security, easing economic pressures and ensuring policies that reduce the burden on the common man. pic.twitter.com/gMb92TlGQL
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 23, 2026
President Zardari ordered ministers to prioritize public aid in economic policies, taking into account the regional situation, and emphasized that the burden of oil prices must be minimized to help ordinary citizens.
They also reviewed the broader law enforcement situation, the economic outlook, the energy sector and the impact of oil price fluctuations.
The Minister of Interior briefed the President on the ongoing counter-terrorism operations and border security. The session also included a review of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and regional security challenges.
Also present at the meeting were PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Provincial Minister Nasir Hussain.
Earlier this month, the government sharply increased diesel and gasoline prices by Rs 55 per liter or 20%, marking the first increase in a series of similar increases in the coming days due to the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to a two-year high.
Read more: PM Shehbaz says oil prices will remain unchanged
The increase in gasoline prices was greater than the increase in the international market, as the government chose to collect more money than necessary from motorcyclists and car owners to subsidize the use of diesel, mainly in public transport and the agricultural sector.
However, a week later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that prices of petroleum products would not increase despite a further rise in international oil prices.
