Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked his staffers to devise a strategy for fuel conservation and austerity in government affairs within 48 hours after a sharp rise in global oil prices pushed the country to increase domestic fuel rates, a senior minister said on Saturday.
The directive comes a day after the government raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter, citing a surge in international energy prices triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran. The circumstances have rattled global oil markets and threatened key shipping routes. “The prime minister has given 48 hours to formulate an actionable strategy on savings, austerity, and simplicity in government affairs,” he said in a social media post on X.
