PM Shehbaz Orders Crackdown on Petrol Pumps Refusing to Pass On Price Relief

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the petroleum minister to act against petrol stations that are allegedly failing to pass on fuel price relief to consumers, chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad.

According to the prime minister, authorities have received complaints that some outlets are holding back the benefit of lower prices instead of reflecting it at the pump. He directed that strict action be taken against such stations so that they serve as a deterrent to others in the sector.

Shehbaz said petrol prices had been set to rise by Rs15 on Friday, but the government's timely intervention prevented the increase, sparing consumers an additional burden. The remark underscores the administration's focus on fuel pricing as a cost-of-living issue for households and businesses alike.

On liquefied petroleum gas, the prime minister declared that the era of the so-called LPG mafia had ended, and said the government would import LPG to provide relief to consumers. The move signals a shift toward imports as a way of easing supply constraints in the domestic gas market.

Turning to security, Shehbaz said safety remains the first, second and third priority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He noted that the government had finalized a Rs160 billion package for the province a day earlier, framing the funding as part of efforts to address the region's needs.

The directives come as the government balances energy pricing, consumer protection and provincial development spending, with the petroleum ministry now expected to move against outlets accused of withholding relief.