Pakistan's finance minister warns September protests could cost Rs120 billion daily as PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami plan major marches.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned Sunday that planned political protests set for late September would inflict daily economic losses of around Rs120 billion. The caution came as the PTI party prepares a march toward Islamabad to demand the release of founder Imran Khan, while the Jamaat-i-Islami also launched its own protest drive over fuel levies.
- ▪Services sector faces largest hit at Rs86bn daily loss; industrial sector Rs25bn; agriculture Rs9bn, according to planning commission research cited by minister.
- ▪Government estimates additional Rs17bn daily revenue loss if protests proceed; previous disruptions required 1.5 months recovery time.
- ▪IT exports vulnerable: civil disobedience previously cut connectivity-dependent exports by 80 percent; July-August average stood at $13m daily.
- ▪PTI plans September 27 march to Islamabad demanding Imran Khan’s release and constitutional reforms; government vowed to prevent the march.
- ▪Islamabad High Court ruled no political party has right to occupy public roads or disrupt traffic; government says it will enforce the order.
- ▪Jamaat-i-Islami launched parallel march today protesting government fuel levy of Rs114 per litre on petrol, Rs100 on diesel; party chief warned could escalate into anti-government protest.
- ▪Middle East tensions cited as backdrop: supply chain disruptions, increased freight costs, recent terrorism wave compounding economic fragility.
- ▪Finance minister framed protests as ‘self-inflicted pain’ during delicate economic recovery; urged dialogue over disruption.
- ▪Interior ministry and administrations of Rawalpindi-Islamabad preparing counter-measures including container barriers and additional security personnel.
- ▪Jamaat-i-Islami staging sit-ins nationwide since mid-August across Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and dozens of other cities over fuel taxation.
Source: according to media reports
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