Pakistan PM Approves Nationwide Austerity Drive Amid Rising Global Oil Prices

ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a nationwide austerity and energy conservation campaign in response to rising global petroleum prices amid tensions in the Middle East, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review austerity and energy conservation measures, a Prime Minister's Office news release said, as cited by APP.

Details of the specific measures included in the campaign were not immediately disclosed in the available statement. The Prime Minister's Office indicated the initiative is intended to address the impact of surging global oil prices, which have been linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

APP reported that further information on the scope and implementation timeline of the austerity drive was expected to be released by the Prime Minister's Office.