Overview
- President Asif Ali Zardari, who met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday, directed the government to curb price pressures and keep essential goods on shelves.
- Senior leaders attended the huddle, including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim.
- Following global oil gains tied to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, the Petroleum Division raised petrol and high-speed diesel by about Rs15 per litre, setting petrol at Rs414.78 and HSD at Rs414.58.
- The fuel jump is lifting transport fares and farm input costs during the sowing season, with businesses warning of higher operating bills despite an earlier Rs100-per-litre motorists’ subsidy.
- The leadership also reviewed Afghanistan and wider regional risks and honored security forces, while Ishaq Dar held talks with the US chargé d’affaires and Saudi foreign minister as a UN envoy praised Pakistan’s diplomacy.