Islamabad, September 15, 2026: The federal government is likely to impose a “petroleum smart lockdown” amid rising fuel prices and the worsening Middle East crisis, with a final decision expected on Tuesday evening, sources said.
A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed various proposals aimed at dealing with the impact of rising petroleum prices, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The government is considering closing markets for three days and reducing working hours under the proposed measures.
A four-day working week for public and private offices has also been proposed as part of austerity measures, the sources said.
Under another proposal, government employees would work on a rotational basis to reduce the number of people commuting to workplaces.
The government is also considering holidays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to reduce transportation and mobility.
The sources said the federal government had decided to introduce a “petroleum smart lockdown”, although details of the final package were still being worked out.
Meanwhile, Coordinator to the Prime Minister Rana Ehsan Afzal said government measures had ensured that there was no shortage of petroleum products in the country.
“There’s no supply issue in the near future when it comes to petrol and diesel,” Afzal said during a television programme.
He said the government did not foresee any supply shocks and added that the country was not facing load-shedding due to an oil shortage.
“We’re not in such a crisis [compared to other regional nations] because of the government’s management,” he said.
Separately, a resolution seeking a reduction in petroleum product prices was presented in the Sindh Assembly by PTI lawmaker Muhammad Owais.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which is an ally of the PML-N at the Centre, supported the resolution.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon called for the abolition of the petroleum levy, saying the salaried class had been crushed by rising costs.
“The federal government should come to its senses and abolish the petroleum levy,” he said.
Memon said the government was collecting more than Rs100 per litre in petroleum levy and should not shift the burden of its failures onto the people.
Criticising the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), he said the party was an ally of the federal government and should raise the issue with it.
Rs100 per litre relief scheme
The government has also launched a targeted relief scheme aimed at vulnerable segments of society.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs100 per litre discount on petrol for motorcyclists, rickshaw and Qingqi owners and drivers, as well as owners of vehicles with engines up to 800cc.
Under the scheme, owners and users of motorcycles, rickshaws and other two- and three-wheeled vehicles will receive Rs100 per litre relief on up to 20 litres of petrol per month.
Owners of small vehicles with engine capacities of up to 800cc will receive the same relief on up to 30 litres of petrol per month.
The prime minister said the government was fully aware of the burden rising oil prices had placed on the public and would not leave people alone during the difficult period.
