NewsDaily

Oil set for second weekly rise as unsettled US-Iran war crimps supply
Oil prices were little changed on Friday, but were on track for a second weekly rise as the stalemated U.S.-Iran war continues to disrupt ​supply from the key Middle East producing region.

Brent crude futures rose 4 cents to $93.82 ‌a barrel by 0142 GMT, after climbing 2.4% in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures slipped 6 cents to $86.78 a barrel, after climbing 2.3% in the prior session.
During the previous ​five days of gains, Brent gained more than 7% and WTI climbed ​more than 8%, reaching their highest since July 24.

Prices have climbed on ⁠concerns the inconclusive state of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will mean the ​continued curtailment of supply from major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the ​UAE and Kuwait.

The earlier peace deal between them expired this week with no effort by either side to restart talks and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened economic retaliation against nations supporting Iran.

"Both ​sides are dug in but lacking the luxury of time to play the ​waiting game, against a backdrop of crude prices grinding unerringly higher," IG analyst Tony Sycamore said ‌on ⁠Friday.
On Wednesday evening, Trump threatened "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale" against Tehran, warning of consequences for any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran".

This week, the United Arab Emirates suspended all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice, ​highlighting the fraught ties ​between the major ⁠Gulf Arab oil producer and Tehran.

Thousands of people have been killed in the Iran war, which began on February 28 when ​the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes on Iran. Since ​then, Tehran's ⁠blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East have disrupted global oil and gas flows.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠on ​Wednesday was unchanged from the day before with nine ​vessel transiting the waterway, far below pre-war levels. Prior to the Iran war, shipments equal to about one-fifth ​of global consumption moved through the waterway.

Govt increases petrol by 27 paisas, HSD by Rs1.64 for Aug 21
The federal government on Thursday increased the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by 27 paisas and Rs1.64, respectively, for August 21.

A notification from the Petroleum Division said the petrol price was now fixed at Rs337.78 while HSD would cost Rs364.70 per litre.

The latest revision comes a day after the government decreased the price of HSD by Rs32.63 while increasing the price of petrol by Rs2.97 per litre for August 20.

Last month, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified on a daily basis, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

Since then, petroleum prices have continued to rise, with diesel prices increasing by Rs72 per litre and petrol prices by at least Rs24 per litre.

On August 19, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik said refineries had accepted the government’s request for a significant reduction in diesel prices and that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) would announce a cut of around Rs30-32 per litre after completing its calculations.

 “The refineries have accepted the government’s request and decided to make a significant reduction in diesel prices. You will see a significant reduction of Rs30-32 within the next few moments, which OGRA will announce after completing its calculations,” said Malik while addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
“Despite being under the IMF programme, the government has used more than Rs100 billion to shield the people from these difficulties. Consultations were held with the provincial governments and, in addition, you have seen the rollout of targeted subsidies,” he said, referring to the measures taken by the government since the beginning of the war in the Middle East.

According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, petroleum products constitute one of the country's largest import categories, making the economy highly vulnerable to changes in global crude oil prices. Domestic refineries satisfy only part of national demand, while the remainder is met through imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Consequently, every increase in international oil prices raises Pakistan's import bill, pressures foreign exchange reserves, and contributes to inflation.

Pakistan previously exercised significant government control over petroleum pricing through subsidies and administrative interventions. While these measures temporarily protected consumers, they imposed substantial fiscal costs. During periods of elevated global oil prices, successive governments delayed passing price increases to consumers, creating financial pressures for oil marketing companies, refineries, and the national budget. Large fuel subsidies widened fiscal deficits, increased public borrowing, and weakened macroeconomic stability.

Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices.

Oil prices on Thursday rose ‌to more than a three-week high after US President Donald Trump warned of retaliation against nations supporting Iran, his latest attempt to resolve a war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil.

Brent crude futures were up $2.20, ​or 2.4%, to $93.82 a barrel at 11:36 am EDT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude ​futures for September rose $2.33 to $88.16 a barrel.

"Tensions ‌in ⁠the Middle East remain high, leaving room for further supply disruptions," said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst with UBS. "Lower oil exports from the Middle East are once again tightening the oil market."

Aurangzeb shares latest debt position with Senate
Pakistan’s total debt comprising domestic debt, external debt and the debt from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was recorded at Rs81.37 trillion till December last year, the federal government informed the Upper House of the Parliament on Thursday.

The break-up of this debt suggested that of the total debt of Rs81.37 trillion, the domestic debt stood at Rs55.36 trillion, external debt stood at Rs23.16 trillion and IMF debt was recorded at Rs2.74 trillion, revealed a written reply shared by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in the Senate session.

The written reply came to a question posed by Talha Mahmood from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who sought from the finance minister the details of the amount of domestic and foreign loans outstanding against Pakistan at present; the amount of the said loans paid back by Pakistan during the last five years with year-wise breakup; and the amount of the mark-up on the said loans paid back by Pakistan during the last five years with year-wise breakup.

The minister’s written reply suggested that external debt servicing was recorded at Rs15.59 trillion in the fiscal year 2021-22, Rs21.36 trillion in FY 2022-23, Rs27.16 trillion in FY 2023-24, Rs25.53 trillion in FY 2024-25, Rs24.85 trillion in FY-2025-26 and Rs13.80 trillion in FY 2026-27 (July-December).

The finance minister’s reply further revealed that the amount of mark-up on total external and domestic loans paid by Pakistan was recorded at Rs2.75 trillion in FY 2021-22, Rs3.18 trillion in FY 2022-23, Rs5.69 trillion in FY 2023-24, Rs8.16 trillion in FY 2024-25, Rs8.88 trillion in FY 2025-26 and Rs3.56 trillion in FY 2026-27 (July-December).

PD could not bear excessive taxation: Malik
Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Thursday said that every sector and division needed to stand on its own feet, as the Petroleum Division could not continue to bear excessive taxation and financial interventions merely to meet budgetary requirements.

Addressing the Energy Conference 2026, the minister said that the Petroleum Division could not be a division on which you continue to load exorbitant taxation and exorbitant financial interventions to meet budgetary impacts because the sector’s sustainability is equally important.

The minister also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for supporting efforts to unbundle and reform the gas sector.

“The government is examining ways to separate the infrastructure business from the energy business, introduce greater competition, improve liquidity in the upstream sector and enhance efficiency and optimization,” he added.

“The World Bank-supported report is expected by the end of August, which will be presented to the prime minister, and once it is presented to the prime minister, they would slowly and gradually move in the right direction,” he said.

The minister said greater competition had already been introduced through the third-party access regime, and the government would continue developing the platform.

The minister said deregulation and greater private-sector participation remained key government objectives for reforming the energy sector.

He said the government would continue to push reforms regardless of the criticism they attracted or the impact on their popularity.

The minister said Pakistan was reviving offshore exploration after two decades under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Friendly countries, Mari Petroleum, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) were participating in the effort.

He said the government must provide investors with policy consistency and medium-term visibility, particularly when companies were making major investments in high-risk exploration.

“If we expect them to invest over a hundred million dollars for one well, we must provide them consistency of policy and medium-term visibility,” he said.

Ali Pervaiz Malik said investors should also be allowed to retain profits from successful exploration and reinvest those earnings in developing the required infrastructure.

“That is the only thing that will enable us to sustainably make this sector grow,” he added.

The minister said Pakistan’s foremost crisis was its vulnerability to external shocks. He stressed that petroleum must be made an integral part of the country’s medium-term national energy policy.

He called for greater convergence and coordination among the petroleum, power and water divisions.

He said the government also needed to consider the demand outlook and the impact of wider economic activity on the petroleum sector.

Malik said the inter-ministerial platform of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE), chaired by the prime minister, had been reactivated, and several meetings had already been held.

He said he had personally suggested to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the committee should meet every two months, regardless of whether it had a specific agenda, to review developments across the energy value chain.

“This is one committee which needs to convene every two months to have a discussion on understanding what is happening in the energy value chain,” he said.

The minister said that the committee brought together the petroleum, power and finance ministers, allowing them to collectively determine how the energy sector could be taken forward on a sustainable basis.

Touching upon circular debt and other legacy challenges, Malik said the government had maintained its flow at near-zero levels without increasing consumer prices.

He said the refineries had responded positively to the government’s request.

However, Ali Pervaiz Malik said, the government needed to address the larger issue of why local refineries remained in a dilapidated state and had not been upgraded to deep-conversion facilities.

He said the new refinery policy and operational flexibility were intended to address these longstanding issues.

The minister said the Petroleum Division secretary was finalising agreements with refineries and a signing ceremony would be held.

PD to establish new SPV for privatisation of three Discos
As the privatisation process of three power distribution companies (Discos) moves forward, the government is likely to direct the Power Division to establish a new government-owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with authorised share capital of Rs250 billion, well-informed sources in the Power Division told Business Recorder.

On July 28, 2026, the Privatisation Commission (PC) Board, in a meeting chaired by Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman of the Privatisation Commission, recommended that the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) approve the restructuring plans and schemes of arrangement for the first batch of Discos—Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).

Under the proposed structure, a government-owned SPV will be established to carve out selected assets and liabilities of the three Discos, thereby facilitating an efficient and commercially viable transaction structure.

According to sources, based on audited financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2026, total assets to be transferred to the SPV amount to Rs350.6 billion, against total liabilities of Rs313 billion, leaving equity of Rs37.6 billion.

The restructuring plans and schemes of arrangement have been prepared on the basis of the audited financial statements of the three Discos for the period ended March 31, 2026. The proposed framework is aimed at maximising value for the Government of Pakistan while ensuring that the transactions remain commercially viable and attractive to prospective private-sector investors.

The PC Board was also apprised of strong interest from both domestic and international investors in the privatisation of the first batch of Discos. The deadlines for submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are August 7, 2026, for FESCO; August 21, 2026, for GEPCO; and September 7, 2026, for IESCO.

Sources said the government would direct Nepra to register the SPV and the pension fund to be established for carved-out pension liabilities under the Nepra Act, Registration Regulations 2022, including regulations 3 and 4 and the application prescribed in Schedule-I, as well as Registration Rules 2023, Rule 3.

The registration would facilitate relevant recoupment of retirees’ pension liabilities through tariff. The government would also allow the lease of land, while the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) would be requested to waive the applicable fee on the authorised share capital for registration of the SPV.

 “All relevant entities are to be directed to take necessary corporate actions to give effect to the restructuring plans, while relevant federal agencies and authorities will provide necessary consents, where required, to implement the restructuring plans and file the Schemes of Arrangements (SoAs),” the sources said.

The three DISCOs being privatised have also been directed to complete the ongoing classification of land under their use into core and non-core categories by the end of the current month.

Sources said FESCO, GEPCO and IESCO would increase their authorised share capital to Rs100 billion, Rs75 billion and Rs125 billion, respectively, taking the combined authorised share capital to Rs300 billion. “The SECP will waive the applicable fee on the increase in authorised share capital of FESCO, GEPCO and IESCO,” the sources added.

Refineries to sign upgrade deals within 10 days
Pakistan will sign agreements with refineries within the next seven to 10 days to advance their long-delayed upgrades, as the government pushes reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s oil infrastructure and attracting investment in energy exploration, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told The News on Thursday.
“We are going to sign the agreements with the refineries in a week or 10 days,” he said. The government on Thursday also shared the draft of the refineries’ upgradation agreement with these refineries which is to be signed before end of this month. Once these refineries are upgraded, will be in a position to refine all kind of crude.

Meanwhile, in a Pakistan Energy Conference 2026 here organised by the Petroleum Institute of Pakistan, the minister stressed that consistent and predictable policies were essential to attract major investment in Pakistan’s upstream sector, particularly high-risk offshore oil and gas exploration.

Pakistan has revived offshore exploration after a gap of two decades, with friendly countries and local companies including Mari Petroleum, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited participating in the effort, he said.

“If we expect them to invest over a hundred million dollars for one well, we must provide them consistency of policy and medium-term visibility,” he said. Malik said successful explorers should be allowed to retain profits and reinvest them in infrastructure needed to develop discoveries, calling it essential for sustainable growth in the sector. “That is the only thing that will enable us to sustainably make this sector grow,” he added.

He said petroleum must become an integral part of Pakistan’s medium-term energy policy, while greater coordination among the petroleum, power and water divisions was needed to reduce the country’s vulnerability to external shocks.

Malik said the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had been reactivated and should meet regularly to assess developments across the energy value chain.

“This is one committee which needs to convene every two months to have a discussion on understanding what is happening in the energy value chain,” he said.On the refinery sector, Malik said the government’s efforts had persuaded refineries to provide some relief through lower diesel prices amid volatile international markets. However, he questioned why domestic refineries remained in poor condition and had failed to upgrade to deep-conversion facilities.

“What we need to really get the conversation going is why they are in such a dilapidated state and why have they not been able to upgrade to deep conversion refineries,” he said.He said the new refinery policy was now in place and agreements with refineries were being finalized.

On energy-sector reforms, Malik said the government was working with the World Bank to restructure the gas sector, separate infrastructure from energy businesses and introduce greater competition.

He also said circular debt flows had been kept near zero without increasing consumer tariffs.“Without increasing a single rupee of consumer tariff … we have still been able to maintain the flow of circular debt to near zero,” he said. Malik said deregulation and private-sector participation would remain central to the government’s energy reforms, adding that the ultimate test would be how future generations judged today’s decisions.

Upgrade of Pakistan’s refineries could lead to a further reduction in diesel prices as higher processing capacity and improved efficiency reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, Chairperson of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Malik Khuda Baksh said.

Baksh said Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik briefed him on Wednesday during his visit to Karachi on the refinery upgradation programme.According to the minister, upgraded refineries will be capable of processing both heavier and lighter grades of crude oil, increasing the country’s refining capacity.

The PPDA chairperson said the government’s measures to pass on the benefits of lower diesel prices to consumers were welcome. He said petroleum dealers had also held detailed discussions with the Ministry of Petroleum, as part of their five-point agenda, on a mechanism to reduce petroleum product prices through refinery operations.

Baksh said the ministry has taken up the issue raised by the dealers, resulting in a reduction in diesel prices. Further refinery upgrades, he added, could create greater scope for reducing the prices of diesel and other petroleum products.

He said improving the capacity and efficiency of domestic refineries will increase petroleum product output and reduce dependence on imported crude oil and finished petroleum products. The benefits of these improvements, he added, should be passed on to consumers.

The PPDA chairperson called on the government to expedite the refinery upgradation process so that domestic production could be increased in line with demand and further reductions in petroleum product prices could be considered.

 

Pakistan scrambles to secure Qatar LNG cargo by August 25-26 as spot prices surge
Pakistan has intensified efforts to secure another LNG cargo from Qatar by August 25-26, as authorities seek to avoid purchasing expensive spot LNG amid a sharp increase in international prices that has pushed the cost of spot cargoes to around $21.22 per MMBtu.
Officials familiar with the developments said the government is exploring all available diplomatic and commercial channels to arrange the additional LNG cargo amid the heightened security situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Given the prevailing market conditions, procuring LNG through the spot market can place a significant additional burden on the country’s energy sector and further drive up power-generation costs. The landed cost of a spot LNG cargo in Pakistan is currently estimated at around $22.30-$23 per MMBtu.

The authorities are particularly reluctant to procure another spot cargo through the normal bidding process because of the steep prices prevailing in the international LNG market. Instead, efforts are focused on arranging supplies from Qatar, while consultations are also continuing with relevant regional and international stakeholders to facilitate the safe movement and arrival of LNG cargoes.

At present, both the PGPC and Engro LNG terminals are operating at approximately 130 mmcfd each, providing a combined gas supply of around 260 mmcfd to the national system.Officials said the berthing schedule of the next LNG carrier at the relevant terminal is expected to be finalised after August 25-26, indicating that the timing of the next cargo remains a key issue for the country’s gas and power supply planning.

The government is under pressure to maintain adequate LNG availability as RLNG remains an important component of the fuel mix for power generation, particularly when domestic gas supplies and other generation sources are insufficient to meet demand.

Sources said Pakistani authorities, particularly the National Coordination and Monitoring Committee (NCMC), are in contact with Qatar, Iran and the United States regarding arrangements connected with the safe passage and delivery of LNG cargoes.

The discussions assume added importance because LNG shipments and regional shipping routes are operating against a complicated geopolitical backdrop. Pakistan is seeking to ensure that LNG supplies reach the country without disruption so that the energy requirements of the power sector and other consumers can be met.

Officials believe that securing a Qatar cargo will help Pakistan avoid, or at least reduce, its dependence on the increasingly expensive spot LNG market.The government’s concern over spot LNG prices is also linked directly to their impact on electricity-generation costs.

Officials acknowledge that the expensive LNG cargoes imported during June and July have already contributed to a significant increase in the cost of RLNG-based electricity generation. In July, the average cost of electricity generated from RLNG rose to approximately Rs47.38 per unit, compared with around Rs35.5 per unit in June.

According to the latest generation data, Pakistan's power system generated 1,629 GWh of electricity from RLNG in July, representing 10.78 percent of total electricity generation.The cost of this RLNG-based generation amounted to Rs77.198 billion, resulting in an average generation cost of approximately Rs47.38 per unit.

The sharp increase in RLNG generation costs coincided with the arrival of several expensive spot LNG cargoes.According to available data, the LNG cargo delivered on July 27 was imported at approximately $21.88 per MMBtu. Another cargo delivered on July 21-22 was priced at $20.6999 per MMBtu, while a third cargo delivered on July 15-16 cost approximately $18.2345 per MMBtu.

Pakistan generated a total of 14,501 GWh of electricity during July, for which the overall generation cost was approximately Rs139.37 billion.RLNG contributed only 1,629 GWh, or 10.78 percent, of that generation. However, RLNG-based generation alone accounted for Rs77.198 billion in expenditure.

With both LNG terminals currently supplying around 260 mmcfd to the system, any disruption or delay in the arrival of the next cargo could place additional pressure on gas allocation and power generation.

 

SBP forex reserves rise by $25m to $17.08bn as of August 13
Pakistan’s central bank foreign exchange reserves increased by $25 million to $17.081 billion during the week ended August 13, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported on Thursday.
The country’s total liquid foreign reserves rose by $8 million to $22.506 billion. However, the reserves of commercial banks fell by $17 million to $5.424 billion. The increase in remittances and a low current account deficit are contributing to the improvement in the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The SBP’s reserves are expected to exceed $21 billion this fiscal year.

The current account deficit decreased to $328 million in July, falling 60 per cent from the previous month and 38 per cent from a year earlier. Analysts said the sequential improvement in the current account from June was positive. However, the headline deficit showed that the external account was facing fresh pressure as domestic demand picked up.

The central bank projects the current account deficit to remain within 0-1 per cent of GDP in FY27. Remittances from Pakistanis working abroad exceeded $41 billion in FY26 and are expected to reach $44 billion in FY27, according to the SBP.

 

Sindh seeks priority gas supply for industries
Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce Jam Ikramullah Dharejo has said the province, as the country’s largest gas-producing region, should receive priority in the supply of gas to its industries, stressing that uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies are essential for industrial and economic development.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the industrial community organised by the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Dharejo said the provincial government is taking measures to promote industrial activity, improve the investment climate and address the problems faced by businesses.

He said the government is acting on the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and under the leadership of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.Secretary Industries and Commerce Shadia Jaffer, KATI President Muhammad Akram Rajput, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Exports, Trade and Commerce Masood Naqvi, members of the executive committee and other industrialists attended the meeting.

Dharejo said the Sindh government is taking steps to address the concerns of industrialists and improve the business environment. The One-Window Operation will be made fully functional to facilitate businesses and reduce the need to visit different government departments for various matters, he said.

He said unnecessary government intervention in industrial zones will be minimised, while facilities would be improved to support business activity. He added that establishing new industrial zones is necessary to expand Sindh’s industrial base.

The government will also consider entrusting ownership and administrative responsibilities for new industrial zones to representative organisations of industrialists, he said.Dharejo said improving infrastructure in existing industrial zones is also a priority. He said it has been proposed that development funds be provided to representative organisations of industrial zones so they could use the funds transparently and efficiently according to their needs and priorities.

said the government will also take steps to provide land at reasonable prices to industrialists seeking to establish businesses in new industrial zones. This, he said, will help attract investment, create employment and strengthen Sindh’s economy.

The provincial minister said the government will continue to pursue policies and initiatives in industry, trade and investment aimed at facilitating businesses, promoting investment and creating employment opportunities for young people.

 

MNCs repatriate $261m in July
Multinational companies operating in Pakistan repatriated $261.4 million in profits and dividends to their overseas headquarters in July, up 73 per cent from the previous month but down 11 per cent from a year earlier, the central bank data showed on Thursday. Analysts said the month-on-month (MoM) rise in the profit and dividend payments to foreign investors reflects June’s unusually light month rather than any real pickup.“Encouragingly, the flow is now steady and orderly, which matters more than the level itself: companies are getting their money out on time, and that predictability is exactly what new investors look for before committing fresh capital,” said Saad Hanif, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities.

Almost all of it is direct investment at $255 million, with portfolio outflows tiny at $6.3 million, so the PSX rally is not leaking dollars out of the system,” Hanif said.“[The] power [sector] at $73.1 million, mostly coal IPPs, and banks at $61.9 million make up about half the total, both mature businesses generating real returns,” he added.

In terms of profit and dividend repatriations by country, Chinese investors repatriated $114.1 million to the mainland in July FY27, up from $88.8 million in the same month last year. Companies from the United Kingdom sent $47.2 million back to their headquarters, compared with $76.6 million last year.

July’s numbers underscore improved corporate profitability and a normalised external account following years of dollar rationing. The rise in foreign exchange reserves, robust remittances, and support from the International Monetary Fund loan programme prompted the State Bank of Pakistan to allow capital outflows. The SBP had previously imposed strict restrictions on dollar outflows during the fiscal year 2023 and the first half of fiscal year 2024.

 

Govt hints at Imran’s medical treatment abroad
The government in the Senate on Thursday hinted at sending the PTI founder chairman Imran Khan abroad for medical treatment, if needed.
However, it was also explained that the Supreme Court had been moved only to seek clarification on whether the relief in the apex court’s recent order was limited to one individual or applicable to other prisoners too.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry made the statement when Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas raised the matter of inadequate health facilities for detained PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and also sought relief for all political prisoners.

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry pointed out that under the law, the convicted prisoners with health issues were shifted to a government hospital. Reacting to this argument, PTI lawmaker Mohsin Aziz remarked, “It is nice to know that the government has acquired a hospital in the United Kingdom.” The minister emphasised that the government would ensure Imran’s medical treatment in a government hospital, or in another hospital, if needed. Then, he went on to say that if the need arose to send him abroad, the government will do that as well.

“We have only approached the Supreme Court for guidance to know whether this facility is for one person or for other prisoners too.” The minister reiterated that the government would implement the court’s decision “in letter and spirit” — a statement he had made in the Senate on the day of issuance of the SC order.

On a point of public importance, Allama Nasir claimed that the system had collapsed, and it was the government’s responsibility to provide health facilities to prisoners. He also strongly spoke for Dr Yasmin Rashid, 76, who is in Kot Lakhpat Jail in terrorism cases despite being a cancer and asthma patient. He noted, “Dr Yasmin Rashid cannot even walk 15 to 20 steps, as she suffers from spinal problems and is not being provided with health facilities.”

Allama Nasir Abbas urged the government to shift Dr Yasmin Rashid to a hospital or to a house arrest. He referred to the case of PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and said he was suffering from heart and kidney ailments. He remarked, “Politicians and parliamentarians have been branded terrorists; politics should not be made a crime.” He again urged the government to view Dr Rashid’s treatment from a humanitarian perspective.

Allama Nasir Abbas pointed out that improvement had started following the Supreme Court’s recent verdict and called for its implementation. Tariq Fazal acknowledged both Dr Yasmin Rashid and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry were respectable for the government; however, Dr Rashid was present at the site when attacks took place on May 9. “GHQ and the corps commander house were attacked and sentences in the case had been handed down by courts, not by the prime minister. Therefore, relief has to be given by the courts,” he maintained. He also assured the House that the government would speak to the Punjab government regarding Dr Rashid’s health and would brief the leader of the opposition on the matter.

However, his remarks about Dr Yasmin Rashid did not go down well with the opposition senators and the opposition leader said it was an allegation and slander that Dr Yasmin Rashid was involved in the attack on the corps commander house.

The Senate adopted the Defence Forces of Pakistan Amendment Bill and the National Command Authority Amendment Bill amid a strong protest by the opposition legislators. The bills were moved in the House as supplementary agenda by Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif, as they were not part of the orders of the day. However, the opposition lawmakers vehemently opposed the introduction of bills without following the laid-down procedure and not being referred to the House standing committee concerned for deliberations and report.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbas rose to object to the manner in which the bills were introduced and questioned the urgency behind the proposed legislation, wondering what the emergency was. He urged the chair to give lawmakers time to read the draft and when this was not done, he announced that the opposition would boycott the proceedings in protest. Allama Nasir was joined by the PTI and JUIF legislators in the walkout, regretting that the bills were brought in the House out of the blue and wondered as to what was the urgency in doing so. Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali Khan was of the firm view that the bills should be sent to the standing committee for discussion and report. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the government’s move, saying parliamentary rules allowed the introduction of supplementary legislation. He said the piece of legislation had already been passed by the National Assembly after the members had gone through it. The Senate will now meet again on Friday morning (today).