ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the petroleum products supply chain and assess ongoing austerity and conservation measures in view of the evolving regional situation, directing authorities to finalize proposals aimed at providing further relief to low-income segments of society.
The prime minister amid chairing the meeting here, instructed relevant ministries to submit final recommendations after consultation with the provinces to strengthen supply management and ensure continued public relief amid global uncertainties, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
Emphasizing strict enforcement, PM Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to take tough action against petroleum smuggling and illegal hoarding to maintain market stability and protect consumers. He said the government had already taken significant steps over the past three weeks to support vulnerable groups and would continue its efforts to shield the poor from economic pressures.
The prime minister stated that through reductions in the development budget and implementation of austerity and savings measures, the federal government had provided relief amounting to Rs129 billion to the public by preventing an increase in petroleum prices. He added that timely government decisions ensured adequate availability of petroleum products to meet domestic requirements.
“Our foremost priority is to provide relief to the people,” the prime minister reiterated.
During the briefing, participants were informed that implementation of austerity measures was progressing steadily and that demand and supply of petroleum products across the country were being monitored regularly through a digital dashboard to ensure uninterrupted availability and transparency in the supply chain.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Power Division 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 officials from relevant departments.