ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to take strict action against the smuggling and illegal hoarding of petroleum products across the country.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review the petroleum supply chain, as well as ongoing measures related to conservation and efficient usage in light of the regional situation.
The meeting also assessed steps aimed at providing relief to low-income groups. The prime minister instructed relevant ministries to finalise proposals in consultation with provincial governments.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that the federal government had already taken key steps over the past three weeks to support vulnerable segments of society and would continue to prioritise relief efforts.
He added that measures such as cuts in the development budget, austerity drives, and energy-saving initiatives had enabled the government to provide relief worth Rs129 billion to the public, helping to contain rising fuel prices.
Officials informed the meeting that sufficient petroleum stocks are available to meet domestic demand. A digital dashboard is also being used to monitor supply, demand, and the overall fuel supply chain.
Several senior officials attended the meeting, including Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with other cabinet members and senior government officials.