High-level meeting chaired by president stresses consensus, strengthening institutional coordination amid regional volatility

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting that stressed the importance of national consensus and institutional coordination in view of emerging regional challenges arising from the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

According to a handout by the President’s Secretariat, President Zardari chaired the meeting at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad. It was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

According to the handout, the broader regional situation also came under discussion, including its implications for Pakistan’s security, economic outlook and food security. The meeting emphasised the need for a coordinated national response, noting that policy decisions must prioritise stability while safeguarding the interests of the public.

“The meeting underscored the importance of maintaining national consensus and strengthening institutional coordination in view of emerging regional challenges. It was agreed that economic management, energy planning, food security and broader security considerations must remain closely aligned to meet this challenging situation,” the handout stated.

It said the meeting reviewed the evolving economic and energy situation in the backdrop of oil supply constraints and hike in petroleum prices, alongside regional security developments.

The meeting also reviewed the “impact of fluctuations in global oil and gas supplies and prices on Pakistan’s economy, with particular focus on managing inflationary pressures and ensuring energy security”, the handout said.

“The ministers for finance and petroleum briefed the meeting on ongoing measures to stabilise petroleum prices, manage the effects of rising fuel costs on other sectors of the economy and enforce fiscal discipline through austerity measures to reduce expenditure pressures,” it added.

The meeting also emphasised the need for public awareness to reduce fuel consumption, encourage the use of public transportation and promote shared ride systems.