PM Shehbaz to unveil austerity plan amid fuel crisis

Regional outlets present Pakistan’s austerity plan as part of a wider Asian struggle with fuel shortages and high prices caused by the Iran war and supply cuts from Gulf producers. Governments in South and Southeast Asia are shown turning to work-from-home rules, school closures and border crackdowns on smuggling to stretch limited supplies. Commentators expect more social and economic pressure if the conflict and production cuts continue through the year.

• •Pakistan’s government is using work-from-home orders and school holidays to cut daily fuel use.
• •Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s austerity plan is described as necessary to keep Pakistan’s import bill manageable.
• •Malaysia’s decision to tighten borders is linked directly to rising fuel smuggling during the energy crunch.
• •Asian countries are increasingly turning to administrative controls rather than price subsidies to manage fuel demand.
• •Regional officials warn that prolonged high prices could slow growth and trigger public anger.