KARACHI, September 21, 2026: President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman of the FPCCI Policy Advisory Board, and former Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Sindh, Mian Zahid Hussain, has welcomed the targeted fuel relief programme initiated by Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for low-income citizens.
However, he warned that fuel prices for industrial and commercial consumers remain exceptionally high, placing the industrial and transport sectors under severe financial pressure and posing serious risks to Pakistan’s exports, supply chains, and overall economic stability.
Mian Zahid Hussain said the Prime Minister’s targeted fuel relief programme for motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles up to 800cc was a timely and commendable initiative. By providing relief to vulnerable segments of society, daily-wage earners, and low-income households, the government had demonstrated its commitment to protecting citizens from the impact of rising inflation and living costs.
He said that, amid the difficult economic conditions resulting from the US-Iran conflict, such targeted support measures were important for maintaining social stability and preventing millions of people from slipping further below the poverty line. The business community, he added, fully supports the government’s efforts to provide relief to the public, who continue to face the cumulative impact of inflation and rising household expenses.
At the same time, Mian Zahid Hussain emphasized that the productive sectors of the economy were facing an equally serious challenge due to exceptionally high energy costs.
He pointed out that petrol prices had exceeded Rs. 389 per litre, while high-speed diesel had reached approximately Rs. 424 per litre, significantly increasing logistics and supply-chain costs. Diesel, he noted, is a critical input for the goods transportation sector and agricultural supply chains.
According to him, elevated fuel prices have substantially increased domestic freight costs, raising the cost of transporting raw materials to factories and ultimately pushing up the prices of essential and consumer goods. The manufacturing sector, he said, was already under considerable pressure from high taxation and elevated electricity tariffs.
Mian Zahid Hussain further stated that the comparatively high cost of fuel, electricity, and gas in Pakistan was eroding the international competitiveness of Pakistani exporters. Export-oriented industries were finding it increasingly difficult to fulfil international orders at competitive prices while competing with regional economies such as Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam.
He said that rising energy and logistics costs were placing additional pressure on industries already operating in a challenging global environment. Supply-chain disruptions in the Middle East, along with instability around key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, were adding to uncertainty in international energy markets and increasing pressure on crude oil prices.
He cautioned that without timely measures to protect the industrial sector from these external shocks, the modest improvement recently witnessed in Pakistan’s export performance could come under renewed pressure.
Mian Zahid Hussain urged the government and the Ministry of Finance to formulate a targeted relief strategy for export-oriented industries and essential supply chains. He recommended introducing targeted fuel subsidies for commercial goods transporters and eligible industrial sectors to help reduce transportation and production costs.
He also called for the accelerated implementation of the $6 billion refinery-upgradation projects, describing them as important for strengthening Pakistan’s domestic refining capacity and reducing vulnerabilities in the fuel supply chain.
In addition, he stressed the need to accelerate Pakistan’s transition towards the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) to facilitate access to more competitively priced electricity for industrial consumers.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that supporting the industrial sector during periods of extraordinary economic pressure was essential for protecting employment, exports, investment, and broader economic activity. A balanced approach—providing targeted relief to vulnerable households while also protecting productive and export-oriented sectors—would be essential for achieving sustainable economic growth.
Mian Zahid Hussain
Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Honorary PhD
Former Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Sindh
Chairman, FPCCI Policy Advisory Board
President, Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF)
President, All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA)
Chairman, National Business Group Pakistan
Chairman, All Pakistan Lubricants Manufacturers Association (APLMA)
Former Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI)
