Petrol shortage continues unabated across Pakistan

Despite rising concerns, a severe shortage of POL products persisted in most cities of the country including Karachi.

As per details, despite the fact that most of the petrol pumps in the cities are open but petrol is not available and the pumps where petrol is available are full of consumers.

Due to the shortage of petrol, the people have been deprived of the benefit of decline in rates and they are forced to purchase expensive high octane due to non-delivery of petrol by petrol pumps.

The availability of petroleum products is worsening said Sameer Gulzar of Petroleum Retailers, the national company is still meeting the huge demand of the city while some oil marketing companies are providing partial supply.

Earlier, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan expressed deep concern over fuel shortage, artificially created by some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and dealers for maximum profits, and formed a committee to verify stocks availability, identify black-marketing and hoarding by some elements.

The minister in a meeting also decided that “OMCs shall not be allowed to ration supplies of petroleum products to retail outlets,” and strict action would be taken against those dealers involved in overcharging and hoarding. The meeting decided that OMCs would not be allowed to cancel or defer their planned cargoes for June 2020, while oil refineries had been directed to produce their committed volume of petroleum products.

It should be noted that after the reduction in the prices of petroleum products in Pakistan, there was a surge in complaints of non-availability of petrol at petrol pumps across the country since June 1 and the government has so far failed to address this issue.