Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Chairs Energy Committee Approving Refining Policy Amendments

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting at the Prime Minister’s House on July 28, 2026, where the committee approved proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023. The amendments concerning existing brownfield refineries are intended to support upgrades, expand production capacity and enable the production of Euro-V-compliant petrol and diesel while reducing furnace oil and other lower-value products. The prime minister directed reforms to improve OGRA’s performance, ensure timely policy implementation and increase Pakistan’s strategic petroleum reserves. He also ordered investment roadshows in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The official briefing did not announce a financial package, refinery-specific investment commitments or a final implementation deadline.