{
  "id": 15133416,
  "title": "Attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure 'worrying' for outlook: finance minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/attacks-on-gulf-energy-infrastructure-worrying-for-outlook-finance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T06:04:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2037797/attacks-on-gulf-energy-infrastructure-worrying-for-outlook-finance-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed concern on Saturday that attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries pose a risk to the nation's economic outlook after the US-Israeli war on Iran. In an interview at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Aurangzeb stated that Pakistan had managed to avoid energy shortages and maintain stability despite the global price surge. He noted that the country had sufficient energy supplies through November and was now preparing for the winter months. However, Aurangzeb warned that ongoing attacks on energy facilities could delay economic recovery even if tensions ease. He emphasized that unless the government felt an \"absolute dire need,\" it would not procure spot cargoes of liquefied natural gas, which are typically more expensive than contracted shipments. The escalation in attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including energy sites and airports, has been attributed to Yemen's civil war and the Houthis' retaliation against Saudi allies. Aurangzeb attributed the country's ability to weather the initial shock to a previous fiscal consolidation path and growing tax revenues. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges in tax collection and reform efforts, facing resistance from industry and vested interests. Pakistan is currently in its 25th IMF programme, including multiple bailouts, and is working on fiscal consolidation to avoid a potential crisis.",
  "summary": "Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday told AFP that Pakistan had so far withstood the shock from skyrocketing energy prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran , but that attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were “worrying” for the country’s longer-term economic outlook. In an interview on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank…",
  "key_points": [
    "Country managed to avoid energy shortages despite global price surge through November.",
    "Ongoing attacks could delay recovery even if tensions ease, Aurangzeb emphasizes."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Regional instability in the Gulf threatens to derail Pakistan's fragile economic recovery by driving up energy costs and forcing the government to rely on expensive spot market purchases.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure 'worrying' for outlook: Pakistan finance minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/attacks-on-gulf-energy-infrastructure-worrying-for-outlook-pakistan",
        "published": "2026-10-17T05:30:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure 'worrying' for Pakistan's outlook, minister says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/attacks-on-gulf-energy-infrastructure-worrying-for-pakistans-outlook",
        "published": "2026-10-17T05:55:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure 'worrying' for outlook: finance minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/attacks-on-gulf-energy-infrastructure-worrying-for-outlook-finance-15136140",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:13:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}