Middle East war drives inflation and supply chain fears – Pakistan’s finance professionals on high alert
Outbreak of war in the Middle East overshadowed the results from the ACCA and IMA Q1 2026 Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS). The survey fieldwork – conducted between 3rd and the 19 th of March – coincided with the outbreak of the conflict in the region, which will have been a major factor weighing on respondents’ sentiment. For Pakistan, the survey’s findings carry particular resonance. As a significant energy importer, Pakistan faces direct exposure to the surge in oil and gas prices and supply shocks triggered by the conflict – Brent crude prices rose by nearly 70% following the outbreak of hostilities. The cost impact on fertilisers, identified in the survey as a major consequence of the Middle East conflict, poses a significant risk to Pakistan’s agricultural sector and food security. Meanwhile, currency depreciation pressures – a hallmark of market uncertainty in emerging economie...