Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that climbing global oil prices and supply disruptions linked to the Iran-US conflict leave the government little room to lower petroleum prices. He made the remarks in Islamabad while the government considers proposals from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) for additional public relief.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Iqbal said the world was facing an emergency. He pointed to the Strait of Hormuz being closed, which he said was affecting oil supplies and pushing petroleum prices up worldwide. “Every country is facing difficulties under these circumstances,” he said, adding that governments were trying to secure resources for their future needs.
Government cites Hormuz disruption and diplomacy
Iqbal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was working to ease the strain on the public, and that the government was offering as much relief as its available resources allowed. He also said Pakistan was playing a diplomatic role to help calm tensions in the region, and that de-escalation was needed to bring oil prices down.
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According to Iqbal, Pakistan had played a diplomatic role between Iran and the United States, and its efforts had drawn international appreciation.
JI proposals sent to a committee for review
Iqbal said a JI delegation had presented proposals during a meeting with the prime minister, and the government would examine them before settling on practical relief steps. He added that Shehbaz and JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had agreed to form a committee to consider the proposals.
The government would also look at widening the prime minister’s fuel relief scheme, which millions of people were already benefiting from. Iqbal stressed that any extra relief must follow a sustainable approach and stay within the country’s financial resources.
Sanaullah said relief on petroleum products was continuing nationwide and that further steps were being worked out to ease the burden on ordinary citizens. He said the government had listened carefully to JI’s proposals, attached importance to them, and that both sides shared the goal of helping the public.
Sanaullah also said the prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir were trying to bring the conflict involving Iran to an end. He urged all political parties to back the country’s political and military leadership in promoting peace in the region, adding that the effects of the Middle East conflict were being felt worldwide.
JI keeps mid-November Islamabad march plan
Earlier, Rehman said JI would hold its planned Islamabad march in mid-November and ruled out any further postponement, even though the government has sought more time to work out relief measures linked to the petroleum levy.
The JI chief said the party had presented its proposals to the prime minister but would continue preparing for the march while talks remained inconclusive.
