ISLAMABAD: The bodies of 28 Pakistani nationals who died in a bus crash in Iran while intending to visit religious shrines in Iraq arrived in their homeland on Friday night after the government sent a C-130 aircraft to the neighboring state for their repatriation.
The bus accident happened on Tuesday night in the central Iranian province of Yazd, according to Pakistani and Iranian authorities.
Another 23 people were injured in the crash, with more than a dozen reported to be in serious condition.
The funeral prayers for the deceased Pakistanis were offered in Iran before their bodies were flown back to the country along with 15 injured individuals who were discharged from the hospital after receiving medical treatment.
“A special flight has brought back the dead bodies of 28 pilgrims who were martyred in a tragic bus accident in Iran’s Yazd province,” Pakistan’s state-owned PTV news channel reported, airing visuals of the aircraft in Jacobabad city of the southern Sindh province.
A majority of the deceased Pakistanis belonged to Sindh’s Larkana district, according to a statement released by the information ministry earlier in the day.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, had also announced on Friday all arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies, along with the injured people, had been completed.
Millions of Shias are currently present in Iraq’s Karbala Governorate to attend the 40th-day mourning ritual after observing the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in 680 CE.
Iran has one of the world’s worst traffic safety records, with some 17,000 deaths annually. The grave toll is blamed on a widespread disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services in its vast rural areas.
Iranian state television has blamed Tuesday’s crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by its driver.
Bodies of 28 Pakistani pilgrims killed in Iran bus crash repatriated on special flight
https://arab.news/5zmar
Bodies of 28 Pakistani pilgrims killed in Iran bus crash repatriated on special flight
- Bus accident happened on Tuesday in the Iranian province of Yazd while these people were traveling to Iraq
- A C-130 aircraft arranged by the government also brought back 15 injured who were discharged from hospital
Pakistan raises fuel prices by Rs55 per liter as Middle East conflict drives oil surge
- Government says adequate fuel stocks in place despite global energy shock
- Oil prices jump from about $78 to over $106 per barrel amid regional conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter each as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent global oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supply routes, officials said.
Global oil markets have been rattled since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began last week, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, raising fears of disruption to key energy shipping routes and pushing petroleum prices sharply upward.
The price adjustment in Pakistan was announced after a joint press conference by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who said the government was monitoring international energy markets and domestic supply conditions amid the crisis.
“So, the decision we have made by changing the levy a little bit is that we are going ahead with increasing the price of both fuels, petrol and diesel, by Rs55 ($0.20),” Malik told reporters.
“And as soon as this matter settles, we will revise the prices downward with the same speed and take steps on how to increase people’s income and purchasing power.”
He said Pakistan entered the crisis with “comfortable energy reserves” due to earlier planning but rising global prices had forced the government to adjust domestic fuel rates to maintain supply continuity.
He said international petrol prices had climbed from roughly $78 per barrel on March 1 to around $106.8 per barrel, while diesel prices had risen to about $150 per barrel.
Malik added that the government had taken steps to minimize the burden on consumers, noting diesel plays a critical role in agriculture, transportation and public mobility.
Malik also warned that authorities would take strict action against anyone attempting to hoard fuel or manipulate supply for profiteering.
The minister said Pakistan was working with international partners to secure additional energy supplies, including arrangements with Saudi Aramco and the use of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels to transport crude oil imports.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said a high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been meeting daily to review developments in global petroleum markets and their potential impact on Pakistan’s economy.
“Pakistan currently maintains adequate energy stocks and macroeconomic stability,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the government’s response was based on preparedness rather than panic.
He said the committee, which includes senior ministers, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and other officials, was assessing short-, medium- and long-term implications of the crisis for inflation, foreign exchange reserves and broader economic indicators.
Deputy PM Dar said the regional conflict had significantly disrupted global energy markets, with international petroleum prices rising by as much as 50–70 percent in recent days.
The deputy prime minister added that Pakistan was also engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region.
Petroleum prices will now be reviewed more frequently, potentially on a weekly basis, and any reduction in global oil prices would be passed on to consumers.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel to meet its energy needs, is particularly vulnerable to global oil price shocks that can quickly feed into inflation and pressure the country’s external accounts.
