Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi and hold urgent negotiations with oil refineries to reduce the prices of locally produced diesel.
The directive was issued during a meeting between the prime minister and the petroleum minister in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting focused on measures to provide relief to consumers amid continued pressure from fuel costs.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik and MNA Hamza Shehbaz also attended the meeting.
Petroleum Minister Told to Negotiate With Refineries
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed Ali Pervaiz Malik to personally engage with oil refineries and complete negotiations as soon as possible.
The prime minister emphasized the need to secure a reduction in the price of locally produced diesel and ensure that the maximum possible benefit reaches consumers.
“Most of the diesel is produced locally by oil refineries,” Shehbaz said, stressing that immediate measures were needed to bring down the cost of the fuel.
The petroleum minister has been tasked with working directly with refineries to explore options for reducing diesel prices and passing the resulting relief on to the public.
Government Seeks Immediate Relief for Consumers
The move comes as diesel remains a major operating expense for several important sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
Transportation companies rely heavily on diesel, while the fuel is also widely used in agriculture and other commercial activities. Any reduction in diesel prices could therefore help lower operating costs for businesses and provide indirect relief to consumers.
Lower fuel costs could also reduce transportation expenses, potentially easing pressure on the prices of goods and services that depend on road-based logistics.
The prime minister directed the petroleum ministry to ensure that negotiations are conducted without delay and that any possible reduction is passed on to the public.
Refineries to Be Engaged Over Local Diesel Prices
The government’s focus on locally produced diesel comes as authorities look for ways to reduce fuel costs through domestic measures.
Rather than waiting for changes in international oil prices, the government is seeking relief through negotiations with local refineries over the pricing of domestically produced diesel.
The outcome of the negotiations could determine whether consumers receive a reduction in diesel prices in the near term.
The petroleum ministry is now expected to engage with the relevant refineries in Karachi and work toward an agreement that could lower the cost of locally produced diesel.
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