Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a televised address Friday reported by multiple outlets, rejected a proposal to raise petrol by Rs95 and diesel by Rs203 per liter.
- The government said it will shoulder an extra Rs56 billion this week to hold pump rates near Rs322 for petrol and Rs335 for diesel, noting about Rs125 billion was already used in recent weeks to curb increases.
- Officials reported fuel supply as stable nationwide, and shipping sources said Iran granted two Pakistan-linked tankers safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with arrival expected March 31.
- The Prime Minister’s Office approved an expansion of the Roshan Digital Account so foreign individuals, companies, and institutional investors can buy government securities, building on more than 900,000 accounts and over $12 billion in inflows by February 2026.
- Pakistan stepped up mediation over the Middle East crisis, with Kuwait’s crown prince and China’s foreign minister voicing support for its efforts, according to official readouts.