Provinces reject countrywide smart lockdown plan

A proposal to impose a countrywide smart lockdown was rejected after provincial governments opposed the idea during a high-level meeting of the national leadership chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the meeting examined the option of targeted lockdowns across Pakistan, but the provinces resisted any move to enforce such restrictions nationwide.

The discussion also focused on austerity measures as the government tried to balance economic stability with the need to protect livelihoods amid the impact of surging oil prices driven by the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to stricter austerity steps and pledged full implementation of measures aimed at conserving energy and fuel, the sources said.

The federal government also called on the provinces to share the burden of the Rs254 billion relief package, underscoring the need for a joint response to the current challenges.

During the meeting, a sub-committee made up of provincial finance ministers was formed to review proposals related to smart lockdowns. The committee is due to meet today to examine the recommendations.

Sources said the forum agreed that close coordination between the centre and the provinces would be vital to managing the situation, while keeping economic stability and efficient resource management at the forefront.

The war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has widened across the Middle East. On Saturday, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel since the conflict began, heightening fears over the safety of shipping routes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea.

Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally handles about a fifth of the world’s oil supply as well as large volumes of liquefied natural gas shipments, has sent Brent futures up 59% so far in March, marking their biggest monthly rise on record. WTI has also climbed 58% this month, its sharpest increase since May 2020.