Pakistan has announced free public transport in Islamabad and Punjab for one month following a drastic fuel price hike linked to the Iran war. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif backpedalled on a 42.7% petrol increase, reducing the price to 378 rupees per litre and vowing not to rest until life returns to normal. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would bear a cost of 350 million rupees for the scheme.
In Australia, Energy Minister Chris Bowen urged citizens to stick to Easter travel plans despite fuel shortages caused by the war, advising them to buy only what they need. The nation holds 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel, and 30 days of jet fuel, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning that economic shocks would persist for months.
Loud explosions were heard in Beirut as Israeli forces struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern suburbs, following evacuation warnings. The area has been largely emptied since the latest conflict erupted.
In the United States, Democratic congressman Adam Smith criticised Donald Trump’s assertion that the downing of a US fighter jet by Iran does not affect ceasefire negotiations. Smith argued that if Iran holds a missing American service member, the situation changes fundamentally. Another Democrat, Jamie Raskin, told CBS News the downings of two US military aircraft appeared to be proof that the US military does not have complete control.
