Due to incompetence of Federal Ministry of Finance and OGRA, there has been a severe shortage of petrol at various petrol pumps in many small and big cities of Punjab, causing serious concern to motorists and motorcyclists to purchase petrol and diesel at petrol pumps. So people can be seen waiting in long queues.
The situation looks worst in major cities like Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad, where supply has reportedly been reduced by oil marketing companies (OMCs) at several petrol pumps. According to reports, petrol is available at the pumps in Gujranwala, but it is being given at Rs 300 per litre, due to which there have been small-to-large incidents at several places.
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Out of total 450 pumps in Lahore, 70 petrol pumps are completely closed.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Information Secretary Khawaja Atif has told Dawn that the areas where pumps are closed due to shortage of petrol include Shahdara, Wagah, Liton Road and Jain Mandir.
Talking about other cities, Khawaja Atif said that in Gujranwala, about 70 percent of the pumps do not have petrol due to low supply from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
According to the information secretary of Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, many pumps in Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal and other districts have been without petrol for several days.
On the other hand, Minister of State for Petroleum Mossadegh Malik has claimed that there is no shortage of fuel in the country, as the stock of petrol is available for the next 20 days and diesel for 25 days.
Mossadegh Malik said that the public should support the government in taking action against the petrol pumps and identify those petrol pumps that are involved in hoarding.
In this regard, the name and area and city details of the petrol pumps stocking OGRA No. 9244300. 051 and send to 9244044.051. Strict action will be taken.
Talking to private TV channel Geo News, Mossadegh Malik said that if the petrol pumps causing the crisis are identified, their licenses will be cancelled.
It should be remembered that in the last week of January, the sale of petroleum products was closed in several cities of Punjab in view of the increase in prices. 35 per litre, but the supply of the basic commodity has not been fully restored yet.
Non-availability of petrol and public complaints
People suspect that the hoarding mafia has become active in the country once again and the government seems unable to stop the hoarders. If the government agency Ogra had imposed fines on the petrol pumps that stored petrol on 27 and 28 January, this mafia would not have been in trouble today.
Citizens say that in some districts petrol is being given to motorbikes for only 200 to 300 rupees, while petrol of only 500 to 600 rupees is being sold to car users. In such a situation, people are affected in their daily routines of life.
Social media users have shared videos on Twitter of several petrol pumps where customers are standing in long queues to get petrol.
Lahore me bhi Kisi jagah nai mil rha…ab in Brighton k agey hathyar daal ker hakumat petrol barha degi…koi writ ha is hakumat ki?
— Ingenieur M Zeeshan Ch (@zeeshan8017) February 6, 2023
کل کئی پٹرول پمپس پر جاکر آگاہ کیا تھا کہ پٹرول پمپس پٹرول ڈیزل دینے سے گریزاں ھیں،لیکن حکومت نے پٹرول مافیا کو لگام نا ڈالی،حکومت کے مطابق بیس پچیس دن کا اضافی پٹرول موجود ھے۔اب تک کسی ایک پٹرول پمپ کے خلاف حکومتی مشنری نے کاروائی نہیں کی.اگر یہ حکومت بے بس ھے تو کرسی چھوڑ کیوں
— صحرانورد (@Aadiiroy2) February 7, 2023