Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued efforts to promote peace in the Middle East, saying the government remains engaged with regional stakeholders amid rising tensions and surging global oil prices.
Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister observed that instability in the region had caused international oil prices to “skyrocket”. He said Pakistan was continuing its diplomatic role to help restore peace, recalling recent engagements with Iran and other regional countries, as well as discussions under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Last month, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, visited Iran as part of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
In October, another meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement brought together Field Marshal Munir, the Saudi defence minister and Türkiye’s intelligence chief to discuss regional developments with senior Iranian officials in Tehran. Pakistan’s military spokesperson said last week that the country remained “cautiously optimistic” about its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.
The prime minister also discussed the government’s response to rising fuel costs, revealing that a proposed Rs15 increase in petroleum prices had been planned for Friday.
He said Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik had held discussions with refineries to encourage them to absorb the additional burden through their windfall profits, adding that the government would seek to protect ordinary citizens from the impact of higher prices.
Speaking about the fuel subsidy programme launched in September, Shehbaz said it would remain in place until the end of December. He noted that Rs28 billion had been spent under the scheme so far, describing its implementation as successful and transparent. The Intelligence Bureau is also monitoring the programme, he added.
The prime minister said the government had introduced a transparent mechanism for LPG arrangements, declaring an end to what he described as the influence of the “mafia” in the sector.
Under the new system, imported LPG will be auctioned in lots to encourage competition. The government will collect the proceeds and use them to provide subsidies to consumers, he explained.
He further said federal authorities were holding round-the-clock meetings to ensure adequate supplies of LPG, liquefied natural gas, petrol and natural gas ahead of winter, despite difficulties caused by disruptions to maritime routes.
LPG supplies have faced interruptions following the closure of Iranian border crossings, while reports of cylinders being sold in the open market at nearly twice the official price have raised concerns among consumers.
The prime minister also announced that the federal government had finalised a proposed Rs160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Emphasising the importance of security in the province, Shehbaz said counterterrorism remained the government’s top priority, with law enforcement agencies continuing operations against militant threats.
He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by security agencies, the provincial government and the federal administration would help eliminate terrorism in the region.
