Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that Pakistan is prepared to deal with any situation arising from ongoing global tensions, as the government reviewed measures aimed at stabilising the economy and providing relief to the public.

Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the premier assessed the country’s fuel reserves, petroleum imports and steps to cushion citizens from the impact of international developments.

Senior officials and cabinet members attended the session, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Officials briefed the meeting on existing oil stocks and the arrangements being made to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply across the country. Participants also welcomed the prime minister’s recent decision not to increase petroleum prices further despite global volatility.

PM Shehbaz said the government was continuing consultations on additional measures to provide relief to citizens, adding that timely decisions had ensured the availability of adequate petroleum supplies in the country.

He noted that a committee formed earlier to maintain economic stability had helped secure continuous oil supply amid a rapidly changing global situation. The prime minister also directed authorities to ensure strict implementation of austerity measures nationwide, including third-party audits to verify compliance.

PM Shehbaz emphasised that economic stability and public relief remained the government’s top priorities, saying policies were designed to provide both immediate support and long-term economic sustainability.

The prime minister also instructed petroleum distribution companies to ensure the sale of fuel at government-notified prices and maintain transparency in the process.

Roshan Digital Account expansion

In a separate development, the government decided to expand the scope of the Roshan Digital Account scheme on the prime minister’s instructions.

Under the revised framework, the facility will now be open to foreign nationals and institutional investors. Foreign companies will also be allowed to invest in government securities and the Naya Pakistan Certificates.

Finance Minister Aurangzeb invited global investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan.

According to the finance ministry, more than 900,000 accounts have been opened under the Roshan Digital Account initiative since its launch by the State Bank of Pakistan on September 10, 2020. The programme has so far attracted over $12 billion in inflows.

Officials said remittances reached $38.3 billion in fiscal year 2025 and are expected to climb to $42 billion in the current fiscal year.

The central bank’s foreign exchange reserves currently stand at around $16.3 billion, while Pakistan’s total reserves are close to $21.6 billion.