Leaders of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) have raised concerns about petrol pumps nationwide potentially closing soon as several petroleum companies reduce their supplies. The Central Secretary General of the association, Chaudhry Irfan Elahi, highlighted the alarming situation during a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, citing a significant drop in fuel supply. Diesel supply has plummeted to 20%, while petrol supplies have also been slashed.
Elahi emphasized that fuel prices are on the rise due to the supply disruptions, with petrol prices climbing by up to PKR 35 and diesel by PKR 17. Nauman Majeed, the Central Punjab President of PPDA, disclosed that petrol supply has been halved and accused some private firms of stockpiling petroleum products.
PPDA Lahore President Jehanzaib Malik urged the government to ensure timely fuel deliveries to petrol pumps, emphasizing the need for supply to meet demand. He criticized government inspections at petrol stations instead of supply depots, expressing dealers’ concerns about potential fuel shortages impacting the public.
Malik warned that if the government fails to restore supply, petrol pumps could begin shutting down starting from Monday. He also alleged that companies have halted petroleum product supplies to exert pressure for price hikes. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s federal government has called on provincial governments to monitor retail petrol stations to prevent hoarding for unfair profit gains.
The Pakistani government has appointed Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh as the Petroleum Division Secretary to address the current situation. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) assured the public of sufficient petroleum product stocks to meet national demand, discouraging panic buying or hoarding. Additionally, the government is contemplating shifting the petrol pricing mechanism to a weekly basis and providing financial support to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for adequate imports, along with promoting remote work to reduce oil consumption.
