ISLAMABAD — The National Assembly on Monday became a battleground of words as the opposition slammed the recent historic surge in petroleum prices, while the government maintained that the decision was a “responsible” response to the global energy crisis triggered by the US-Israel-Iran conflict. The session saw the suspension of the standard Question Hour to allow for an urgent debate on the economic fallout of petrol reaching Rs458 and diesel Rs520 per litre.
قومی اسمبلی اجلاس کے دوران رکن قومی اسمبلی محترمہ شرمیلا صاحبہ فاروقی ہشام کا پٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں حالیہ اضافے کے حوالے سے اظہار خیال۔#NASession @sharmilafaruqi pic.twitter.com/Z0ulLKTlWQ
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) April 7, 2026
Key Highlights
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The “War Premium”: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik informed the House that global crude prices spiked from $70 to $170 per barrel following the outbreak of hostilities.
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Supply Line Shift: To bypass the conflict zone, Pakistan is now importing oil via Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) and Fujairah (UAE) through alternative Omani routes, significantly raising insurance and transport costs.
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Fiscal Burden: The government claimed it absorbed a loss of Rs50–60 billion per week for nearly a month before passing the cost to consumers.
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Targeted Relief: Millions are reportedly being disbursed via digital wallets to motorcyclists, transporters, and farmers to cushion the blow.
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Opposition Critique: PTI and other opposition parties questioned why Pakistan’s price hike is the highest in the region compared to neighbors like India.
The Government’s Defense: “Supply Over Shortage”
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasized that the primary achievement of the state was ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fuel, noting that many other nations are currently facing severe shortages and law-and-order crises.
قومی اسمبلی اجلاس کے دوران رکن قومی اسمبلی محترمہ سائرہ افضل تارڑ کا پٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں حالیہ اضافے کے حوالے سے اظہار خیال۔#NASession pic.twitter.com/AyKbgI1Xdh
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) April 7, 2026
“The cost of insurance and transportation has gone up because of the war,” the Minister stated, adding that the Saudi government has been instrumental in providing oil through special strategic routes. He also highlighted that despite the energy crunch, the government is ensuring gas supply to all 10 fertilizer factories to keep prices stable at Rs4,500 per bag for farmers.
Opposition Fire: “Punishing the People”
The opposition, led by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali and Shahid Khattak, launched a scathing attack on the government’s economic management.
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Regional Comparison: Barrister Gohar questioned why the increase in Pakistan was the most “drastic” in South Asia, pointing out that India had successfully pressured oil companies to lower profit margins to protect citizens.
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The “Cow Dung” Tax: In a pointed jab at the Punjab administration, the PTI Chairman criticized Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for allegedly “taxing the cow dung” to fund the purchase of a luxury jet while the public struggles with fuel costs.
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Call for Reform: MQM’s Dr. Farooq Sattar proposed a more radical shift, urging the government to do away with the Petroleum Levy and heavy customs duties, suggesting instead that the tax net be expanded to all taxable income to provide genuine relief.
Policy Statement by Finance Minister
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb provided a policy statement, asserting that the government had been planning for this contingency for five weeks following the initial attack on Iran. He reiterated that over Rs100 billion in subsidies had been provided to protect the most vulnerable segments, but a blanket subsidy was no longer fiscally sustainable under current global conditions.
The debate ended without a consensus, as opposition members remained unconvinced by the government’s “global volatility” argument, calling instead for immediate price reversals to prevent a total “economic collapse” of the working class.
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