Govt quells smart lockdown talk as fuel crisis bites

The federal government is not considering a smart lockdown in the country to cope with rising fuel prices, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry clarified a day after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said some austerity measures were under review to determine which ones needed to be imposed. Following Tarar's press conference on Monday, reports emerged that the measures under review might include the imposition of a smart lockdown to cope with a worsening petroleum situation. The reports also highlighted other austerity measures, such as restricted working and market timings, to conserve fuel. However, talking to reporters after a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar regarding the petroleum products situation in the country on Tuesday, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected reports that a smart lockdown had even been discussed at the meeting. "Smart lockdown was neither discussed in the meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister nor is it in my knowledge. The meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister was regarding petroleum products," Chaudhry told reporters. Fuel prices in Pakistan are on the rise following renewed escalation in the Middle East. American attacks on Iran and the latest escalation in the Red Sea, in which Yemen's Houthi rebels struck Saudi energy infrastructure and advanced towards the strategic Bab el-Mandab Strait, have stoked global oil prices. Tarar said on Monday that the austerity measures rolled out after the American attacks on Iran disrupted oil flows globally were continuing on the directive of the prime minister, with markets and restaurants being closed at fixed times. Tarar said some austerity and simplicity measures introduced during the recent emergency situation were also continuing, while others were under review to determine which needed to be reimposed, with a decision to be announced soon. Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the government was providing targeted subsidies for three-wheelers and vehicles up to 800cc for three months. He added that public representatives were being assigned responsibilities to guide people about the scheme. Dar's Office said in a post on X that the minister chaired the meeting "on administrative follow-up of the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme", adding that Dar "stressed that registration must remain simple and accessible to ensure maximum benefit to the intended beneficiaries". The fuel subsidy scheme, announced on Sunday, was launched in the federal capital on Tuesday, with subsidised petrol being supplied to eligible citizens at designated petrol pumps. The relief of Rs100 per litre will be extended countrywide from midnight between Wednesday and Thursday. Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, whose ministry is providing technological support for the scheme, visited various petrol pumps in the federal capital to review its implementation. She directed the administration to ensure uninterrupted provision of relief to all eligible registered citizens. The minister interacted with citizens and enquired about the problems they faced during registration and while obtaining fuel relief. She clarified that citizens needed to register only once and there was no need to repeat the registration process. Under the fuel relief scheme, eligible citizens are required to send "TOK" to 9771 before visiting a petrol pump to generate their fuel token. The token should then be presented at the petrol pump to obtain petrol at the subsidised rate. Khawaja had told a press conference on Monday that owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Chingchis and vehicles up to 800cc would benefit from the scheme, which covered all four provinces, along with Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)