President Zardari directs ministers to prioritise public relief, curb fuel price burden

LARKANA: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday instructed the federal government to make public welfare a top priority, reduce the impact of petroleum prices on citizens, and work towards alleviating the economic pressures faced by the general public.

The directives were issued during a high-level meeting held at Bhutto House in Larkana, according to a press release.

Key attendees at the meeting

The meeting was attended by several senior government officials and political figures, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Faryal Talpur, and Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah were also present.

Security, economy and energy sector discussed

According to officials, the participants conducted a comprehensive review of the country's overall law and order situation, the national economic outlook, and key developments in the energy sector, particularly those related to the pricing of petroleum products.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi provided the president with a briefing on the status of ongoing counterterrorism operations as well as border security measures.

Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and regional security

The meeting also took up the matter of strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A detailed overview of broader regional security challenges was discussed by the participants during the session.

The finance minister was also among those who engaged in the discussions, which covered the country's fiscal direction alongside the security and energy-related matters on the agenda.

The gathering at Bhutto House brought together key decision-makers from the federal and Sindh provincial governments, reflecting the range of issues — from economic relief to national security — that were addressed during the session.