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Amid rising tensions in West Asia, Pakistan may seek relief from the International Monetary Fund on petroleum levy as oil import costs surge. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned the monthly oil bill could reach $600 million, worsening the country’s already fragile economic situation.

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00:13Amid the developing security situation in West Asia, Pakistan could see its monthly oil import
00:19bill soar to a whopping 600 million U.S. dollars, the country's finance minister
00:24Mohammad Aurangzeb said on March 8, Dawn reported. He also mentioned that the government is preparing
00:31alternative plans to deal with the financial impact of rising oil prices. As per Dawn, the crude prices
00:38could rise to 120 U.S. dollars a barrel if the conflict escalates further. As Pakistan continues
00:46to reel under economic stress, Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervais Malik called for fuel-saving
00:52measures so that Islamabad's existing reserves last longer and added that the country would
00:56request the International Monetary Fund for relief in the petroleum levy. This comes amid the backdrop
01:03of Pakistan announcing a massive hike in fuel prices, with petrol and high-speed diesel rates
01:08jumping by Rs. 55 per litre and increase of approximately 20%. As of March 7, 2026, the new
01:17rates have pushed petrol to Rs. 321.17 and high-speed diesel to Rs. 335.86 per litre, placing an
01:25immense
01:26burden on an already struggling economy amid the escalating crisis in West Asia. The announcement
01:31has sparked widespread anxiety across the country, where residents are already battling high living
01:37costs during the month of Ramadan as commuters and workers have expressed despair over the rapid cost of
01:42living increase. With petrol now reaching Rs. 324 per litre, the rise is expected to affect the prices of
01:50many other goods, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens trying to cope with the growing
01:55financial strain. Experts warn that this fuel shock will likely trigger a second wave of inflation, as transport
02:02and logistics costs rise, inevitably driving up the price of food and essential goods. Meanwhile Prime Minister
02:10Shahbaz Sharif would unveil an austerity plan of the government on March 9, in view of the fuel crisis
02:16amid the US-Israel-Iran War Dawn reported citing Pakistan Prime Minister's office. As per Dawn report,
02:23Pakistan PM has chaired a meeting on March 8 to review the austerity plan.
02:54Pakistan PM had a
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