Examines the general law and order situation, economic outlook and the energy sector; PM takes stock of food supplies
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed the government to minimize the price burden of petroleum products to facilitate the welfare of citizens.
According to a statement issued by the Presidential House on X, President Zardari met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Aurangzeb and Oil Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik at the Bhutto House, Naudero.
The Ministers of Finance and Oil briefed the President on economic indicators, the energy sector and government measures in response to the rise in prices of petroleum products.
President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with the ministers of Interior, Finance and Oil, reviewing security, economic and energy challenges. He emphasized strengthening border security, easing economic pressures and putting in place policies that reduce the burden on the common man. pic.twitter.com/gMb92TlGQL
– The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 23, 2026
President Zardari asked ministers to prioritize public assistance in economic policies, taking into account the regional situation, and stressed that the burden of oil prices should be minimized to help ordinary citizens.
They also examined the general law and order situation, the economic outlook, the energy sector and the impact of oil price fluctuations.
The Interior Minister briefed the President on ongoing counterterrorism operations and border security. The session also included a review of Pak-Afghan tensions and regional security challenges.
Also present in the meeting were PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Provincial Minister Nasir Hussain.
Earlier this month, the government sharply increased diesel and gasoline prices by Rs 55 per liter, or 20 percent, marking the first in a series of similar hikes in the coming days due to the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to their highest level in two years.
Learn more: PM Shehbaz says oil prices will remain unchanged
The increase in gasoline prices was greater than that of the international market, as the government chose to collect more money than necessary from motorcyclists and car owners to subsidize the use of diesel, mainly in public transport and the agricultural sector.
However, a week later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that prices of petroleum products would not increase despite a further rise in international oil prices.
