ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) said on Tuesday it would hold its first public rally on October 11 in Quetta, adding that the event would mark the beginning of the group's anti-government campaign that would engulf the country in the coming days.
The PDM is an alliance of various political factions that attended the opposition's multiparty conference on September 20 that agreed on launching countrywide protest demonstrations to bring down the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration.
The opposition parties announced to take decisive action in January by marching toward the federal capital to build pressure on the government.
Addressing a news conference after the first meeting of its steering committee, opposition leaders pledged to continue their struggle against the government and promised "true political change" in the country.
The PDM meeting was convened only a day after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau in a corruption reference.
PDM leaders denounced the development while addressing the news conference, adding that such arrests would further erode people's trust in democracy and produce more political frustration in the country.
The PDM steering committee will hold its next meeting on Monday to consolidate the alliance's future political strategy.
Alliance of opposition parties to hold first rally in Quetta on October 11
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Alliance of opposition parties to hold first rally in Quetta on October 11
- The Pakistan Democratic Alliance was formed after the opposition's multiparty conference on Sept. 20
- The alliance's steering committee held its first meeting just a day after the country's anti-graft body arrested PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif
Islamabad launches real-time fuel monitoring system as Iran war rattles oil markets
- Authorities say they will track petrol stocks at 145 stations through City Islamabad app
- Petrol stations in the city are required to upload daily stock data to prevent shortages
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s capital have launched a digital system to monitor petroleum stocks at fuel stations in real time, and official statement said on Tuesday, as the government steps up oversight of supplies following market disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The system has been introduced by the Islamabad district administration days after authorities sealed seven petrol stations for refusing fuel to motorists. It will allow officials to track fuel inventories through the “City Islamabad” mobile application, requiring petrol pump operators to upload daily stock details as authorities seek to prevent hoarding and artificial shortages.
The initiative comes days after Pakistan raised fuel prices sharply and authorities across the country launched crackdowns on hoarding amid fears that escalating conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global energy shipments and push oil prices higher.
“Real-time monitoring will ensure that any shortage of petroleum products can be addressed immediately,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said in the statement announcing the system.
The statement noted the new digital tool would enable authorities to track stock levels at 145 fuel stations across Islamabad and monitor transactions through the mobile platform.
Under the system, petrol pump owners must upload daily stock information, while the district administration has released a tutorial explaining how to use the feature.
Authorities warned that failure to upload stock data could result in action against fuel station owners.
Pakistan has tightened monitoring of fuel supplies in recent days after global oil markets were rattled by United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, which raised concerns about possible disruptions to shipping routes in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy trade.
The government has said it is closely watching domestic supply conditions and international oil markets while taking steps to ensure fuel availability and prevent panic buying.
