Pakistan Protests Could Cost Economy Rs120 Billion a Day, Aurangzeb Warns
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan could suffer economic losses of around Rs120 billion per day if long marches, strikes, sit-ins and road closures disrupt commercial activity, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has warned, as several groups prepare protests in Islamabad. The figure is a government estimate rather than an independently established measure of actual losses.
Aurangzeb said the estimate was prepared with the Planning Commission’s economic wing using previous experience and current economic conditions. According to the minister, the services sector could lose around Rs86 billion per day, covering financial services, communications, transport, retail, wholesale and hospitality.
He estimated potential losses of another Rs25 billion per day in industry, including construction, finished goods, raw materials and supply-chain activity. Agriculture could account for approximately Rs9 billion, with transportation, perishable products, dairy supplies and agricultural trade potentially affected. Together, the three estimates total Rs120 billion.
Aurangzeb also estimated that disruption to economic activity could result in approximately Rs17 billion in lost government revenue, while additional expenditure on security, logistics, transport and fuel could place further pressure on public finances.
His comments came after Jamaat-e-Islami, Kissan Ittehad and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced plans for separate long marches in Islamabad. The groups have different demands: JI is seeking removal of the petroleum development levy, Kissan Ittehad is demanding relief for farmers, while PTI is calling for the release of its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan.
The finance minister said Pakistan was seeking to move from macroeconomic stabilisation towards sustainable growth. He cited GDP growth of 3.7% last year and said the government hoped growth would exceed 4% this year. The Finance Ministry has separately described sustained growth, private-sector activity and investment as current economic priorities.
Aurangzeb also highlighted risks to exports. He put Pakistan’s daily goods exports at around $90 million and said previous severe disruptions had affected exports by as much as 50% in a worst-case scenario. He added that exporters were already facing higher freight and insurance costs because of supply-chain disruptions linked to instability in the Gulf and Bab el-Mandeb region.
The minister urged political and other stakeholders to resolve their differences through dialogue, arguing that prolonged disruption would particularly affect daily-wage workers, small shopkeepers and businesses.
The Rs120 billion figure should be understood specifically as the government’s estimate of the potential daily economic impact of widespread disruption, not as a verified loss already incurred.
