Prime Minister Shehbaz, federal ministers, top military officials and provincial chief ministers are expected to attend.
A combined photo of President Asif Ali Zardari (left) and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (right). Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari will chair a high-level meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s mediating role, sources said. The Express PK Press Club Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, top federal ministers, top military officials and provincial chief ministers are expected to attend the session.
The agenda will include a detailed review of the Iran-US-Israel conflict and the latest developments, as well as the situation arising from attacks on Gulf countries, sources said. The meeting will also review Pakistan’s oil reserves and supply chains, as well as the implementation of austerity measures, they added.
Participants are expected to be informed of potential “smart lockdowns” and other emergency measures, with provincial proposals for such lockdowns also under consideration. Besides, sources said key decisions on subsidies for motorcycle and autorickshaw drivers would also be expected during the session.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar will also brief the participants on the results of the meeting of foreign ministers of the four countries. The quadrilateral consultations involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt were held in Islamabad on Sunday as part of a coordinated effort by major Muslim countries to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Yesterday’s meeting ended with initial discussions that reportedly focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Foreign ministers of the three regional powers landed in Islamabad for the negotiations. The discussions came as Iran warned the United States against launching a ground attack and as global oil prices soared amid continued fighting between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Read: Pakistan announces Iran-US talks in ‘coming days’
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also announced on Sunday that Islamabad could host high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States “in the coming days.”
The meeting will also assess Pakistan’s oil reserves and supplies, review the implementation of austerity policies and consider possible smart lockdowns and related measures. Provincial suggestions on smart lockdowns will be assessed, and key decisions on subsidies for motorcycle and rickshaw drivers are also expected.
Sources said on Saturday that the federal government had finalized a comprehensive plan to impose a nationwide “smart lockdown” alongside broader austerity measures aimed at reducing energy consumption and managing a worsening fuel crisis triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The proposed plan combines targeted restrictions on public activity with structural changes to the operation of workplaces, as authorities attempt to support economic activity while sharply reducing demand for fuel and electricity.
Learn more: Fuel crisis: government plans smart containment
International crude oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, significantly increasing the import burden for energy-dependent economies. Earlier this month, the government hiked the prices of petrol and diesel at high speed, pushing petrol above Rs 321 per liter and diesel beyond Rs 335 per litre.
Officials say Pakistan’s heavy reliance on fuel imports makes it particularly vulnerable to external shocks, with rising oil prices expected to strain foreign exchange reserves and widen the current account deficit.
