PM Shehbaz calls on Nawaz, discusses political situation in country, steps taken for peace in Middle East

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at their Jati Umra residence in Lahore on Sunday, a statement issued by the PM’s Office (PMO) said, adding that the Middle East conflict and the political situation in the country were discussed during the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present on the occasion.

The PMO statement said the premier briefed Nawaz on the “situation in the country” and exchanged views on the political situation.

He further informed him about the situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s efforts for the restoration of peace in the region, the statement added.

The conflict in the Middle East, which is now more than two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences.

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has been engaged in feverish diplomacy, leading the efforts for de-escalation.

On April 11-12, Pakistan hosted the first high-level contact between Iran and the US in decades and mediated the meetings, known as the “Islamabad Talks”. However, with challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between.

Meanwhile, the conflict has also resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime — giving rise to a global energy crisis and an increase in oil prices in the international market.

The PMO statement said PM Shehbaz also took Nawaz into confidence regarding oil prices in the international market and the steps the government has taken to “provide relief” to the people against this backdrop.

After the US-Israeli war on Iran began, the government initially hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre on March 6 and announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9.

However, in the following weeks, PM Shehbaz said he had rejected recommendations to further increase fuel prices despite an increase in the global market on three occasions.

But on April 2, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced an unprecedented increase of 43 per cent and 55pc in the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel, respectively. The ministers had also announced a targeted fuel subsidy programme.

However, just a day later, PM Shehbaz slashed the petroleum levy by Rs80 per litre and brought the price of petrol down to Rs378 per litre.On April 10, PM Shehbaz further decreased diesel prices and petrol prices by Rs135 and Rs12 per litre, respectively.

The government has twice increased the prices of the two commodities since, first on April 24 and later on April 30.