Planning Commission Research: Services Sector Rs86Bn Loss Industrial Sector Rs25Bn Agriculture Rs9Bn Revenue Loss Rs17Bn IT Exports Hit 80% By Internet Disruption December 2025 Strike Took 1.5 Months To Recover PTI Sept 27 Nationwide Protest Imran Khan Release
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb issued a sharp warning on Sunday that PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami protests and sit-ins would cost Pakistan an estimated Rs120 billion per day, citing Planning Commission research, and called the planned marches “self-inflicted pain” against an economy already absorbing shocks from the Middle East conflict. Dawn News
The sector-by-sector breakdown is striking: services; including financial services, retail, transportation and hospitality, would suffer Rs86 billion in daily losses, the industrial sector Rs25 billion, and agriculture Rs9 billion. Additionally, Rs17 billion in daily revenue losses were projected. Aurangzeb also highlighted that internet disruptions from civil disobedience had previously reduced IT exports by 80 per cent; significant given that IT exports ran at Rs13 million per day in July and August. The December 2025 strike, he recalled, took 1.5 months to recover from.
PTI has announced a nationwide protest on September 27 demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and constitutional supremacy. JI launched its long march toward Islamabad on Sunday demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy; currently Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. The government has said it will stop any march on the capital “in every possible way.” The Islamabad High Court ruled no political party has the right to block roads or occupy public spaces. Hundreds of containers have been placed at Islamabad’s entry points. PIMS and the Federal Government Polyclinic have been placed on “high alert” until September 30.
Aurangzeb urged dialogue. The marches are underway. Check out our previous coverage of Pakistan’s politics on The Trusted Times.
