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The Government of Pakistan has announced a fresh increase in petroleum prices, raising the price of petrol by Rs. 1.63 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs. 1.55 per litre. The revised prices will come into effect from July 29, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division. Following the latest revision, petrol will now cost Rs. 335.81 per litre, while high-speed diesel will be available at Rs. 388.38 per litre. Officials said the increase reflects fluctuations in international crude oil prices caused by renewed tensions in the Persian Gulf, which have affected global energy markets. The government continues to collect substantial taxes and duties on petroleum products. Consumers currently pay around Rs110 per litre in taxes and levies on petrol, while diesel carries approximately Rs96 per litre in taxes and duties. Fuel prices have remained volatile throughout the year. Diesel had previously reached a record Rs520.35 per litre in early April after rising sharply from Rs281 per litre during the escalation of the US-Iran conflict. Similarly, petrol climbed to a peak of Rs458.41 per litre after increasing from Rs266 per litre in early March. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik recently announced that fuel prices would now be reviewed daily instead of weekly. The decision aims to ensure domestic fuel prices better reflect international market trends, especially during periods of global uncertainty. Under the new policy, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) will determine daily fuel prices based on changes in international oil markets. However, the move has faced criticism from the All Pakistan Dealers Association, which has warned that it may launch protests against the daily pricing mechanism. Petrol is primarily used by private vehicle owners, motorcycles, rickshaws, and small transport operators. As a result, any increase directly impacts middle- and lower-income households. High-speed diesel is widely used in heavy transport, agriculture, power generation, and industrial sectors, meaning price hikes can also increase transportation and production costs, contributing to inflation. With monthly sales of 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, petrol and diesel remain Pakistan’s largest petroleum products by consumption and are significant contributors to government revenue. As global oil prices continue to fluctuate, consumers should expect further adjustments in domestic fuel prices in the coming weeks.

The federal government has significantly increased the value of diyat (blood money) for the fiscal year 2026-27, setting the amount at more than Rs. 19 million due to a sharp rise in silver prices. The new value represents an increase of nearly 97 percent compared to the previous year. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the official value of diyat has been fixed at Rs. 19,352,390 in accordance with the provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860. Under Pakistani law, diyat refers to the compensation paid by an offender to the heirs of a person killed in a criminal case. The amount is determined based on the value of 30,630 grams of silver, as outlined in Section 323 of the PPC. The latest increase is mainly linked to the significant rise in silver prices. The diyat amount for the fiscal year 2025-26 was Rs. 9,828,670, meaning the new figure has almost doubled within one year. The value of diyat has continued to rise in recent years due to fluctuations in precious metal prices. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the amount was fixed at Rs. 6,757,902, which was already a 56 percent increase from Rs. 4,318,524 in 2022-23. Section 323 of the Pakistan Penal Code states that courts must determine the diyat amount while considering Islamic injunctions from the Quran and Sunnah, as well as the financial circumstances of both the convicted person and the victim’s heirs. However, the amount cannot be lower than the value of 30,630 grams of silver. The law also requires the federal government to announce the value of silver through an official notification each year. This declared value becomes the basis for calculating the minimum diyat amount for that financial year. The increase has renewed discussion over the method used to calculate blood money. In July 2025, a proposed amendment was introduced in the Senate suggesting that the minimum diyat calculation should be changed from 30,630 grams of silver to either 2,000 grams of gold or one-fourth of the assets owned by the convicted person. The latest notification highlights how changes in precious metal markets can directly affect legal compensation amounts in Pakistan. As silver prices continue to fluctuate, the annual revision of diyat remains an important financial and legal matter affecting victims’ families and the criminal justice system.

Pakistan has been ranked among the countries with the highest number of viral hepatitis cases worldwide, with the country standing fifth globally in total hepatitis burden, according to the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA). The warning was issued on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, highlighting the growing public health challenge caused by hepatitis B and C infections. PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said Pakistan has one of the world’s largest burdens of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), with around 10 million people suffering from chronic Hepatitis C. In addition, an estimated 3.8 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV), bringing the total number of people affected by viral hepatitis in the country to approximately 13.8 million. According to the PMA, Pakistan’s hepatitis burden is higher than many countries and is exceeded only by China, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria. The national prevalence rate of Hepatitis C is estimated between 4.8 and 7.5 percent, while Hepatitis B affects around 1.1 to 1.7 percent of the population. Health experts warned that untreated hepatitis can lead to serious complications, including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which collectively claim more than 37,000 lives in Pakistan every year. Dr Shoro stated that Pakistan contributes a significant share of new global Hepatitis C infections due to unsafe medical practices. He highlighted that thousands of new infections occur annually because of the reuse of unsterilized syringes, unsafe medical equipment, and unscreened blood transfusions. Other major causes of hepatitis transmission include unsafe surgical procedures, dental treatments, tattooing, body piercing, shaving with contaminated razors at barber shops, and practices carried out by unqualified healthcare providers. Low coverage of the mandatory Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine has also remained a concern. President Asif Ali Zardari said hepatitis remains one of the country’s most serious public health challenges but emphasized that it can be prevented and treated through early detection, timely medical care, and collective efforts. He stressed the need for strict regulation of unsafe healthcare practices and awareness campaigns to protect citizens. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also highlighted the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and access to quality treatment. He said strengthening the healthcare system and improving public awareness are essential steps toward reducing the disease burden. Health authorities and public representatives called for greater cooperation between government institutions, healthcare providers, and communities to control hepatitis transmission and improve treatment access across Pakistan.

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed all federal and provincial authorities to remain on maximum alert and maintain full preparedness to tackle any emergency resulting from the ongoing monsoon rains and the flood situation affecting different parts of the country. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting held in Islamabad on Tuesday to assess the impact of the current monsoon spell and evaluate the government’s response to flooding and related emergencies. During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to maintain close coordination with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and provincial governments. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that weather forecasts and monsoon-related alerts are shared promptly with all relevant federal and provincial institutions to support timely decision-making and emergency response. Shehbaz Sharif also tasked Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal with chairing daily meetings of the Flood Committee to closely monitor the evolving situation, review developments, and recommend appropriate measures to minimize the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding. Highlighting the risks in Pakistan’s mountainous regions, the Prime Minister stressed that the early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods must remain fully operational. He underscored the need for constant vigilance in vulnerable northern areas where melting glaciers continue to pose a serious threat. The Prime Minister noted that although Pakistan contributes only a small fraction to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains one of the countries most severely affected by climate change. He said the government is actively implementing short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies aimed at reducing the country’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters and strengthening resilience against extreme weather events. Shehbaz Sharif instructed the NDMA, in collaboration with all relevant departments, to take every possible measure to protect lives, safeguard property, and strengthen disaster response efforts throughout the ongoing monsoon season. The meeting was attended by NDMA officials and chief secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Participants received detailed briefings on recent rainfall, the extent of damages, and the progress of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations. Officials informed the meeting that the NDMA is providing full logistical support and resources to provincial governments to manage flood-related emergencies in northern regions, while also assisting authorities in responding to the ongoing heatwave affecting Sindh and Balochistan. The participants were also briefed that another heavy spell of monsoon rainfall is expected over the next two days in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and southern Sindh. A further nationwide spell of significant rainfall is forecast for the second week of September. The meeting was informed that the Flood Committee established on the Prime Minister’s instructions continues to hold regular meetings to monitor the situation and ensure the effective implementation of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures across the country. According to the latest figures presented during the briefing, the current monsoon season has claimed 110 lives, injured 360 people, damaged 796 houses, and caused the death of 376 livestock. Officials also highlighted that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon has accelerated glacier melting in Pakistan’s northern regions, increasing the likelihood of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and flash floods over the coming month. Authorities have already identified high-risk areas and are taking preventive measures to reduce potential damage. The meeting was further informed that immediate action has helped bring urban flooding under control in central Punjab, including Lahore, while drainage operations continue in agricultural areas affected by floodwaters. Authorities also confirmed that the flood situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby districts remains under control. Officials reported that timely operations have led to the reopening of roads at 106 locations, restoring connectivity in affected areas. The meeting was also told that the National Emergency and Telecommunication Centre, established by the Ministry of Information Technology, is fully operational, enabling Rescue 1122 teams to respond quickly to emergency calls from any mobile phone across the country. In addition, authorities have identified 700 locations nationwide for rainwater storage during the monsoon season. The initiative aims to conserve water for agricultural use during dry periods while improving long-term water management and climate resilience.

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to improve the efficiency and performance of government institutions by adopting modern technology and enhancing the professional training of public sector employees. He made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting on the federal government’s rightsizing initiative and measures aimed at improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of state institutions. The meeting reviewed the progress made under the government’s administrative reform agenda, which seeks to reduce the size of the public sector, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensure more efficient delivery of public services. Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister said that technological innovation and skill development are essential for transforming the public sector into a more responsive, transparent, and efficient system. He stressed that government institutions must embrace modern digital solutions while ensuring that employees receive the training required to adapt to new technologies and administrative practices. Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s rightsizing policy is already producing positive results by reducing unnecessary spending and improving the utilization of public resources. He noted that several major reforms have been implemented under the initiative, including the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO). According to the Prime Minister, these decisions were taken after careful consideration to streamline government operations, eliminate overlapping functions, and reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer. He said the objective of the reforms is to build a leaner and more efficient public sector capable of delivering better services to citizens while ensuring fiscal discipline. The Prime Minister stated that the savings generated through the rightsizing initiative would help strengthen the country’s financial position and allow the government to allocate more resources toward priority sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. To ensure transparency and accountability, Shehbaz Sharif directed that all positions and institutions abolished under the rightsizing programme should undergo an independent third-party audit. He said the audit would assess whether the reforms had been implemented effectively and whether the expected financial and administrative benefits had been achieved. The Prime Minister also instructed the relevant authorities to accelerate the implementation of all remaining rightsizing measures. He emphasized that administrative reforms should be carried out efficiently while maintaining transparency and ensuring that public services are not disrupted during the restructuring process. During the meeting, officials briefed the participants on the progress achieved so far. They informed the Prime Minister that vacant positions across various federal ministries and government departments have been abolished as part of the government’s effort to reduce unnecessary staffing and improve administrative efficiency. The meeting was further informed that work is also underway on the privatization of several state-owned enterprises. Officials said the government is taking practical steps to transfer selected public sector entities to the private sector in accordance with its broader economic reform programme. The privatization process aims to reduce the financial burden of loss-making enterprises on the national budget while encouraging greater investment, improved management, and enhanced productivity. Participants also reviewed the overall progress of the government’s institutional reform agenda and discussed future steps to further improve governance and public sector performance. The Prime Minister reiterated that administrative reforms are essential for ensuring sustainable economic growth, strengthening public finances, and delivering better services to the people. Concluding the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing structural reforms aimed at creating a modern, efficient, and accountable public sector. He said that through the adoption of technology, improved training, transparent governance, and responsible financial management, Pakistan’s government institutions can become more effective in meeting the needs of citizens and supporting the country’s long-term development goals.