About 50 percent patrol pumps of Karachi stopped operating on Wednesday due to strike of Oil Tankers Association against the hike in petroleum prices, causing severe problems for citizens especially commuters. It is feared that more patrol pumps would go closed if the strike of oil tankers was not ended soon.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association President Sami Khan told PPI that dealers have adequate stock of petrol, however, due to the strike it could not be transported to the petrol pumps. He said there is acute shortage of petrol at petrol pumps, however, diesel is readily available there.
"So far 50 percent patrol pumps have already been closed in the city and if the government failed to take urgent steps to resolve the issues of oil tankers, all the patrol pumps might be closed by tomorrow," he warned. He said the oil companies should arrange their own transportation to transport oil to petrol pumps and the government should protect them. However, citizens faced a lot of problems in getting oil. Many motorcyclists were seen dragging their bikes on roads in search of fuel.