News
March 06 2026
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chairs a meeting of the cabinet committee formed by the prime minister to monitor oil prices on Thursday — Dawn
Govt Decides in Principle to Implement Work-from-Home for Fuel Conservation
Islamabad: The government on Thursday decided in principle to start weekly revisions for petroleum prices effective from March 8 and to implement measures such as distance learning and work-from-home for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The national action plan was finalized in consultation with the provinces at a meeting of the cabinet committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for monitoring petrol prices due to the regional situation.
The action plan will be presented to PM Shehbaz on Friday. Subject to his clearance and fine-tuning, it will then be taken up by the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee for formal approval and implementation.
Back-to-back meetings of the three forums are scheduled for Friday, in that order, given the urgency of the matter. According to informed sources, the contingency measures had also been discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During the meeting of the cabinet committee for monitoring petrol prices on Thursday, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, federal ministries and provincial governments emphasized that they had faced a similar situation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Barring health-related precautions, almost all the contingency actions, including work-from-home, distance learning, and car-pooling, could be revived from next week to save fuel, energy and foreign exchange and minimize financial pressure on the budget and public purses.
Meanwhile, according to an official handout, the meeting also reviewed developments in the energy sector and assessed national preparedness measures amidst the evolving regional and global energy situation, undertaking a detailed review of petroleum product stock positions across the country.
“In line with broader preparedness planning, the committee examined a phased menu of fuel conservation measures drawing on institutional protocols implemented during prior national emergencies to support demand management if needed, while carefully calibrating communications to avoid any perception of undue alarm”, the statement said.
It was further decided that the committee would finalize its recommendations by the next day and submit them to PM Shehbaz, together with a comprehensive implementation plan covering supply assurance, enforcement, pricing/governance mechanisms, and conservation measures, as appropriate.
“The committee will continue to meet daily to monitor developments, review stock positions and supply chain movements, and ensure timely execution across all stakeholders,” the statement said.
It added that the members were also apprised that the national reserves remained at comfortable levels, with sufficient cover available for key products, and that there was no immediate cause for concern regarding the availability of petroleum products.
The committee, however, noted that the situation remained “fluid and uncertain”, requiring sustained vigilance and prudent planning as global supply chains and shipping routes face heightened risk and cost pressures.
A comprehensive briefing was also given on international oil market conditions, including movements in global benchmarks, freight and insurance costs, maritime and routing dynamics, and the risk of supply congestion at key chokepoints, the statement said.
“The committee reviewed multiple supply and pricing scenarios to ensure preparedness under different contingencies and to maintain stability in domestic energy supplies.” - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
Back to Pakistanlink Home