{
  "id": 1898800,
  "title": "PM directs petroleum minister to travel to Karachi, hold talks with oil refineries for reducing diesel prices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/pm-directs-petroleum-minister-to-travel-to-karachi-hold-talks-with-1898800",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:47:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2023874/pm-directs-petroleum-minister-to-travel-to-karachi-hold-talks-with-oil-refineries-for-reducing-diesel-prices"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi and engage in discussions with oil refineries regarding the reduction of diesel prices, according to the Prime Minister's Office. This directive was conveyed during a meeting that also included Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik, and MNA Hamza Shehbaz. The Prime Minister emphasized the urgency for Malik to \"immediately\" proceed to Karachi and take necessary steps to provide relief to the public concerning fuel prices. He further directed the minister to \"hold negotiations with the oil refineries\" and \"ensure measures to reduce the price of locally produced diesel.\" The PMO stated that Malik himself should conclude negotiations with the refineries as swiftly as possible to bring about a reduction in prices, aiming to offer the maximum relief to the public as soon as feasible. This development follows the government's decision on Tuesday to increase the prices of petrol by Rs3.34 per litre and high-speed diesel by Rs5.27 per litre under its daily pricing mechanism, implemented due to global oil disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict. The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers' Association (PPDA) had previously given the federal government a 72-hour ultimatum, accusing it of not fulfilling promises made by the petroleum minister regarding their demands. The dealers had requested a change from a fixed margin to a variable margin linked to retail prices of petrol and diesel, proposing that the margin be set at 8% of the retail price of both fuels. In an attempt to prevent a nationwide strike, the government approved a 15.5% increase in dealers' margins on both petrol and high-speed diesel on Friday, raising the margin by Rs1.34 per litre, from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98 per litre, effective from September 1. The revised margin is set to take effect from September 1. The government opted to retain the daily pricing mechanism despite the dealers' additional demands.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi and hold negotiations with oil refineries to reduce diesel prices, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The premier issued the directive during a meeting with the petroleum minister, which Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Climate Change…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}