Fuel Prices Surge, Pakistan Offers Free Public Transport for One Month
Public transportation in Pakistan’s capital will be free for one month amid rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.
“All public transportation in Islamabad will be free for the public for the next 30 days, starting tomorrow,” said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the X platform on Friday (3/4).
He added that his ministry would cover the costs of 350 million Pakistani rupees (approximately Rp21.3 billion) for the programme.
Pakistan previously raised fuel prices on Thursday. The price of petrol per litre increased from 321.17 rupees (approximately Rp19,600) to 458.4 rupees (approximately Rp28,000), while the price of diesel rose from 335.86 rupees (approximately Rp20,500) to 520.35 rupees (approximately Rp31,700).
This development occurs as oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have drastically declined amid the war between the US-Israel and Iran. Around 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait every day.
Supply disruptions have driven up oil prices as well as shipping and insurance costs, sparking global economic concerns.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry stated that 21 Nepalese migrant workers in the Middle East have been injured since the war began.
Thai public broadcaster PBS reported that human remains were found on a Thai ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last month during a second search.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry stated that the remains will be sent for forensic identification.
The ship Mayuree Naree was attacked while sailing in waters near Oman on 11 March. Three crew members are still missing.
According to Anadolu, at least 26 people from Asian countries have been killed or are still missing since the conflict began.
They include nine from India (one missing), four from Bangladesh, four from Pakistan, as well as one each from China, Nepal, and the Philippines. Three people from Indonesia and three from Thailand are still missing in waters around the Middle East.
In Indonesia, the government previously asked civil servants to work from home amid the energy crisis.
In Malaysia, civil servants living more than 8 kilometres from their offices will work from home three days a week starting 15 April, according to a report by Free Malaysia Today.