The government on Monday cut the price of petrol by Rs5.16 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs7.69.
Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs381.14 per litre while HSD will cost Rs389.27 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.
According to the Petroleum Division’s notification, the new prices are applicable for Oct 20 (Tuesday).
The price of HSD has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28.
Meanwhile, the government has reintroduced a raft of austerity measures in response to rising fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Under these measures, markets are required to close by 9pm and fuel allocations for official vehicles has been cut by 50 per cent for three months.
On September 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced a “relief scheme” for users of motorcycles, autos and vehicles of up to 800cc to “alleviate the burden” of rising global oil prices.
Previously, on July 17, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.
Prior to this, the government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel prices since early March, alongside measures for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The federal government in April also announced targeted relief measures to provide subsidised fuel.
The petroleum minister stated that the cabinet and the prime minister had decided to give the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) the responsibility of deciding fuel prices on a daily basis based on international market trends.
Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes.
Similarly, changes in diesel prices also impact the public at large, as it is mainly used in the heavy transport sector, power plants and large generators.
Petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) are the major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene.
The new Saudi envoy in Pakistan, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, met with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday, with both sides expressing satisfaction over the progress made under the trilateral Makkah defence agreement, according to the military’s media wing.
Albugamy assumed his diplomatic responsibilities in Islamabad last Thursday, reaffirming the commitment to strengthening the strategic and fraternal ties between the two countries.
Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Monday that the ambassador called on CDF Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. According to the statement, matters of mutual interest and regional security dynamics were discussed.
“Both the dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the progress made under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and underscored the importance of strengthening defence collaboration, institutional linkages and strategic coordination,” the statement read.
CDF Munir congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure would further strengthen the longstanding fraternal ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, which are “rooted in shared faith, mutual trust and strategic partnership”.
Last week, Albugamy met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its “sovereignty, security and territorial integrity” amid a recent escalation in Houthi attacks during their meeting.
DPM Dar, meanwhile, underscored longstanding fraternal and strategic ties between Islamabad and Riyadh when he met Albugamy. He also reaffirmed Islamabad and Riyadh’s “shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity”.
Earlier this month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye convened an emergency meeting under the Makkah alliance and agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom.
While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah defence pact, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
In an interview aired on Sunday, the military’s spokesman said Pakistan is providing “whatever support is needed” to defend Saudi Arabia amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against the kingdom.
Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday asserted that the PPP was the “last party” in favour of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that it had emphasised dialogue as the first course of action.
The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move also followed a mobilisation drive and protest march by the PTI, which was in power in KP and in opposition in the Centre, to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
The PPP, an ally of the ruling PML-N, supported the federal government’s move while opposition parties and leaders, in addition to the PTI, denounced it.
Memon, who was speaking to the media in Karachi, said: “Let me clarify; the step taken in KP was not out of greed or desire for power. Had it been the case, the members of the advisory council appointed by the [KP] governor would have been political representatives or suggested by the PPP.”
“They were chosen purely on merit,” he said.
The minister deemed terrorism the main challenge being faced in KP, adding that it was “plaguing” the entire country. He said the Afghan Taliban were crossing into Pakistan, infiltrating the borders areas in KP. That, he said, had been a “big challenge”.
“And the KP government was repeatedly told to fix things, but they were unwilling,” Memon claimed.
He said a comparison was also being drawn between KP and Balochistan, which was also facing security challenges. Questions were being raised that if governor’s rule was imposed in KP, why not in Balochistan, he noted.
“If there is terrorism in Balochistan, the provincial government there is fighting against it,” Memon argued, adding that Balochistan’s chief minister did not have a “soft spot” for terrorists.
He alleged that former premier Imran and later Sohail Afridi, who has become non-functional as the KP chief minister following the imposition of governor’s rule, had insisted on dialogue with terrorists.
“It was the responsibility of the KP chief minister and government to fight against terrorists,” he stressed.
Coming to his party’s involvement in the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, he said the PPP was the “last party” in favour of the move.
The PPP tried to engage the opposition and insisted that a dialogue be held with the PTI first, Memon said, adding that, however, “when just one person, the KP chief minister” was not willing to engage on counterterrorism and had a “soft spot” for terrorists, the people could not be left helpless.
He also reacted to statements by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor’s rule in KP.
“We respect him a lot but that does not mean he supports a party that has backed terrorism,” he said, adding that Fazl should consider the challenges Pakistan was going through. “They (JUI-F) should help the government against terrorists, help our law enforcement agencies,” Memon added.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday highlighted Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, affirming that Islamabad “never gave up”.
He made the remarks while addressing the 8th Global Security Forum being held in Qatar’s capital, Doha. Convened under the title “The Future of Alliances“, the forum brings together high-ranking officials and dignitaries from over 100 nations, according to Qatar News Agency.
“The last few months have been very difficult for our region. The conflict involving Iran and the United States created serious risks not only for the Middle East, but for the entire world,” Naqvi noted.
He added that at such a critical time, Pakistan chose the path of peace and made “every possible effort to reduce tensions”.
Naqvi, who has been involved in Islamabad’s peace efforts and has made several trips to Iran since the war began, said: “There were moments when the situation was extremely tense, but we never gave up.
“We continued talking, listening and working to build trust. And I can tell you from my experience: peace is not achieved in one meeting; it requires patience, trust and continuous efforts.”
He particularly highlighted the “remarkable role” of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Pakistan’s efforts to reduce tensions.
CDF Munir, accompanied by Naqvi, had visited Iran in August “as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability”. The interior minister last made a visit to Iran in September, with Tehran describing the trip as part of bilateral engagements.
Speaking at the Doha forum, Naqvi recalled the June 18 signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US. The 14-point MoU, which Pakistan signed as a mediator, provided a framework for ending the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28.
“There, I saw something I will never forget,” he said, adding that Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CDF Munir worked for “more than 16 hours without a single break”.
“No cameras, no announcements; only two men who refused to let the talks fail,” Naqvi remarked, emphasising that the only aim of the two mediating countries was to “stop further conflict and to save innocent lives”.
The minister praised Qatar’s peace efforts, noting it had “done so much”. “In the diplomacy of our time, when others chose sides, Qatar chose to keep talking. Pakistan has seen this closely because we have worked beside you.”
He stressed that Pakistan has always believed that “dialogue is better than war”.
“Our recent experience has taught us three important lessons: never close the door to dialogue, trust is the most important key for any kind of talk, and thirdly, peace requires sincere efforts from everyone.”
The senator emphasised that no single country could achieve regional peace alone.
“Pakistan is proud of the role it has played in the regional peace efforts,” he said, reaffirming that Islamabad would continue to support dialogue, peace and cooperation.
“We believe that winning peace is far more important than winning a war,” the minister remarked.
He conveyed Pakistan’s message: “We do not want credit for stopping wars. We want a future where wars do not start.”
The war between Washington and Tehran began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which responded with retaliatory attacks on nearby Gulf countries.
While diplomatic engagements continue, there has been a lack of progress in recent weeks in negotiations to end the war.
After an interim ceasefire collapsed, Iran in September presented its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — the key oil trade route that has remained central to the conflict.
The US said it had rejected that proposal, while Iran’s security chief said negotiations have stalled because Washington failed to address all seven conditions for reopening the strait. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s offer to the US to reopen the waterway within seven days was still on the table.
Meanwhile, the Middle East is currently facing heightened tensions on another front as Houthi rebels attack Saudi Arabia after a truce in their long-running war with Yemen’s coalition government unravelled in July.
Makkah alliance ‘not for war’
During his address, Naqvi cited the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August as an example of Islamabad’s commitment to regional security.
“It is a pact for defence, not for war,” he declared, adding that no country could “enjoy lasting peace if its neighbours are facing conflicts”.
The pact, under which the three countries have formed the Makkah Defence Alliance, empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
Naqvi also spoke about countering security challenges and called for stronger international cooperation on the matter.
“As Pakistan’s interior minister, I also understand the price of terrorism and insecurity. Pakistan has suffered greatly; thousands of our citizens, soldiers, and policemen have lost their lives. Even today, we continue to fight.”
Describing terrorism as a “common enemy”, he called for “stronger cooperation, better intelligence-sharing and joint efforts to defeat it”.
The senator noted that counterterrorism cooperation was not something Pakistan has only sought, but also provided. He then highlighted the country’s contributions to the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions.
“Our UN police peacekeepers have helped protect civilians, support local police and restore peace in countries affected by conflict. We are proud of their services and sacrifices,” he said.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said Pakistan is providing “whatever support is needed” to defend Saudi Arabia amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against the kingdom.
Responding to a query about the military support Pakistan was providing to the kingdom amid attacks by Houthis, the DG ISPR said Saudi Arabia’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security, and foremost the security of the Two Holy Mosques, is paramount”.
“It’s non-negotiable; it’s absolute as far as Pakistan is concerned […] So whatever support is needed to do that is being provided and will be provided,” he affirmed, adding that no alliance makes public the specifics and the quantification of the support provided.
Commenting on Pakistan’s reaction to the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, the military spokesman said, “Our reaction in Pakistan, on the streets, from a young boy and girl up to our political and military leadership, is one of anger.”
He remarked, “Our reaction is that why would anyone in his right mind attack or threaten Saudi Arabia or the holy places or even give an impression of threatening the holy places.”
He declared there could be no “ifs and buts” on the security of the holy sites.
On whether Pakistan’s support to Saudi Arabia will strictly remain defensive if the Houthi attacks continue, the the military spokesperson said all three members of the alliance were “absolutely clear […] that this alliance has no offensive intent; it is purely defensive”.
Citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter that provides collective deterrence, he said such a mechanism “gives a very strong and clear message to those elements of instability, of chaos, in the region that if you directly or indirectly wage this war against any of these three countries, then the response will be collective”.
“If that deterrence doesn’t work, then that deterrence has to be re-established by all means that are available to the three countries,” he added.
Asked whether Islamabad had issued any “warning” to Tehran regarding Houthis as the Saudi deputy foreign minister linked the two, the DG ISPR stressed that Pakistan had been engaging with all parties involved, including Iran, “with the singular intent of restraint and to reduce the temperatures”.
The military spokesperson reiterated that “all interactions and all conversations with the parties are based on dialling down the escalation”.
Speaking further about the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Lt Gen Chaudhry noted, “You have seen a sinusoidal sort of pattern in this conflict, that it does down and then the agent of chaos starts and they come into play and take the entity up.”
He contended that such escalations will not “resolve this conflict”.
“Whether you expand it to Houthis, whether you expand it to other places, it doesn’t serve anything. It only serves those who are interested in chaos in the region.”
The DG ISPR added: “But at the same time, […] Pakistan is giving very strong signals that this collective deterrence is at play, has already been actualised and we will take all necessary steps for the security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Haramain Sharifain (The Two Holy Mosques).”
He remarked that the “message is going to everyone, whether he is in front or he is behind” the escalation.
Regarding reports linking the alliance’s formation to the need to deter Iran or Israel, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the pact was not “country-specific” and did not have any “offensive intent”.
However, he added: “It is [formed] to have peace, stability and security in the region. So any actor which threatens that peace, stability and security, it automatically interacts with this collective deterrence mechanism.”
Regarding the threats to maritime navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, the DG ISPR noted that Riyadh had established a multinational maritime defence coalition, with a Pakistani naval officer serving as its deputy commander.
‘We need to stop attacking each other’
Asked about his message to Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Muslims “need to unite”. He emphasised that there was no advantage “to these countries, any country, by vertically or horizontally escalating these conflicts”.
“We need to stop attacking each other,” he maintained, highlighting that Pakistan had been trying to convey the same to all parties since the US-Iran war erupted.
“If we are unable to come to a negotiated outcome and we turn into a military conflict, then this instrument of collective deterrence of the Makkah alliance will definitely come into play, as it is coming into play,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.
On scepticism raised about the Makkah pact, the DG ISPR remarked that the sceptics were “only those who have a problem with this alliance, so it’s their job to do this criticism”.
“It’s not suddenly out of the blue that they have decided. The relations go way back,” he stressed. He further termed it “phenomenal” how the alliance has evolved “in a very short period of time”.
Regarding the expansion of the alliance, the military spokesperson maintained that the door remains open to other countries that believe in the principle of collective deterrence and share the member states’ goals related to regional security and stability.
Asked about reports of Egypt and Syria’s interest in joining, he stated such decisions rest with the political, strategic and military leadership of the three countries.
Earlier this month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye convened an emergency meeting under the Makkah Defence Alliance and agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom.
While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah defence pact, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
On Sept 18, the DG ISPR said Pakistan would go to “any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia, adding that Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security is “unconditional”. At the same time, Pakistan also stresses that the alliance is intended for collective deterrence and is defensive in nature.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Monday to lead Pakistan’s delegation at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
Upon arrival, he was received by Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Irfan Ahmed and Pakistan’s national coordinator for the SCO, Khalil Hashmi, along with senior Tajik government officials.
Later, he held a meeting with Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and thanked him for the warm hospitality extended to the Pakistani delegation and appreciated the arrangements for the SCO meeting. According to the Foreign Office (FO), he also congratulated Tajikistan on the 35th anniversary of its independence.
“The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence and culture, as well as promoting people-to-people exchanges. They also underscored the importance of cooperation on climate change and water security,” it said.
“Highlighting Pakistan’s expertise in disaster management, Dar underscored the potential for cooperation with Tajikistan through the National Disaster Management Authority. They also exchanged views on regional developments. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with Tajikistan to promote regional peace and deeper economic integration,” it said.
DPM Dar also met the first deputy prime minister of Mongolia, Jadambyn Enkhbayar, on the margins of a reception hosted by Rasulzoda for heads of delegations attending the SCO meeting.
In addition, he held an informal meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang on the sidelines of the banquet dinner, according to the FO.
“The two leaders had a cordial exchange of views on Pakistan-China All Weather strategic relations and current regional developments,” the FO said.
Dar is visiting Dushanbe at the invitation of Rasulzoda to attend the SCO’s Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting being held from Oct 19-20, according to the FO.
The CHG is the SCO’s second-highest decision-making body and provides guidance on economic, financial, trade, connectivity and socio-economic cooperation, as well as the organisation’s budgetary matters, FO noted.
“The prime ministers of Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Iran’s vice president and India’s external affairs minister will also represent their respective countries at the meeting.”
During his visit, Dar will also call on Tajikistan’s president and prime minister and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the meeting, the FO added.
Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) for 2027 during an annual summit held in Kyrgyzstan in September.
On Oct 1, Dar chaired a follow-up meeting to review preparations for the SCO CHS summit, which Islamabad is scheduled to host in 2027.
In July, Pakistan hosted the 12th meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO. Islamabad also chairs SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS), a role it assumed last September.
The country last hosted the SCO CHG meeting in Islamabad in October 2024.
An army major was martyred and four terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Monday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that security forces conducted a series of operations in areas of Shadi Kaur and Pasni in Gwadar, and Jattakabad in Kalat district, on the reported presence of multiple hideouts of Fitna al Hindustan.
The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
In the first operation on October 18, security forces conducted an IBO in the general area of Jattakabad, during which four terrorists were eliminated.
“A large cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered,” it added.
In the second operation, ISPR added that security forces conducted a series of clearance operations in the general area of Shadi Kaur, Pasni, in Gwadar.
It added that 34-year-old Major Wajahat Waheed, a Lahore resident who was leading the operation, was martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack.
“Sanitisation operations will continue to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. The relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace.”
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” ISPR added.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, in separate statements, commended security forces for the successful operations.
They also paid tribute to Major Wajahat Waheed, extending their condolences to his family.
President Zardari, in a statement posted on X, reaffirmed that conspiracies of “the terrorists’ foreign patrons and their local facilitators will be thwarted”.
PM Shehbaz reiterated the resolve to continue the fight against foreign-sponsored terrorism until its complete eradication, state media reported.
Intensified operations
Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.
A day earlier, security forces killed eight “India-sponsored” terrorists during IBOs conducted in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan.
On the night of Oct 12/13, security forces busted a terrorist hideout and killed five terrorists during an IBO in Washuk, ISPR said.
Days later, Balochistan government officials said that six terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), two would-be female suicide bombers, and two commanders of a banned organisation had been arrested during IBOs across the province.
They said around 90 arrested terrorists were being held at a centre where investigations and legal proceedings were under way.
Earlier this month, five terrorists were eliminated in Balochistan’s Mastung district, state media reported.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
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