PHOTO: REUTERS
The premier will chair meetings on fuel management, focusing on the provision of immediate relief to the people and is expected to take important decisions, taking to task those responsible for the current shortage and ensure measures are taken to bridge the supply-demand gap.
“The prime minister unequivocally said that people should not suffer and every measure will be taken to provide them relief on immediate basis,” a statement from the PM House stated on Sunday.
Just yesterday, the prime minister suspended four senior government officials, including some who had consistently been warning the government in advance of the impending crisis.
RELATED POST: Petrol shortages: Amid gruelling crisis, PM suspends officials
Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed, Additional Secretary Mohammad Naeem Malik, Director General Oil Muhammad Azam and Pakistan State Oil’s Managing Director Amjad Parvez Janjua were suspended from their duties.
The move to suspend the officials followed days of bad publicity for the government in the shape of continued news coverage of the petrol shortage, which has left thousands stranded in severe weather on the streets of urban Punjab, the heart of the prime minister’s political power base.
Officials told The Express Tribune that the petroleum ministry had informed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting on January 10 that the country’s oil stocks on an average were enough for 18 days of consumption on January 6. The figures were calculated by the director general oil of the petroleum ministry.
RELATED POST: Slippery issues: Ministry misleads ECC on oil shortage
However, Punjab started facing petrol shortages soon after the ECC meeting. Within days, the situation worsened and petrol stations ran dry with people scrambling to purchase whatever fuel available at the filling stations.
But as oil companies and government officials continued to trade accusations on Friday, with neither side willing to accept culpability for the sudden crunch in petrol supplies in the northern half of the country both sides agree on one fact: there was an unprecedented surge in demand for petrol after the government decided to reduce prices.
RELATED POST: Petrol crisis: Oil companies, govt trade accusations of culpability
COMMENTS (56)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Bohran Khan: insults NOT REQUIRED AS THE RULERS HAVE DEVELOPED HARD SKIN AS WELL AS HARD HEADS
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Nawaz went to Bahrain. Then he went to Saudia to look after the King there.
Where was PML-N's leadership when oil crisis was raising its head like big black snake and PSO warned the government repeatedly that PSO has only oil reserves till 13th of January 2015 and why the government has this old bad habit when issues/problems get enormous/huge then government takes notices mostly based on emergency meetings,officials' suspensions and paperwork and why doesn't follow the this phrase "nip the evil in the bud"??????
@waqas: Better would be metro bus.
Khaqan Abbasi has no right to remain as minister, no gas, now no petrol, why he is on this seat. Do not have competent people with PML(N)?
To end fuel crisis government should start working on motorway from Lahore to Jeddah :)
Imagine a king who has lost his authority, has to favor all those crooks who invested in his campaign, has nothing to offer to his country men except "larra lappa" which no one is buying this time around and is out of favor with his foreign supporters. The bottom line is that the King is a liability which this nation has to carry on its shoulders for the next three years and finally dump once and for all. The only ray of hope is our brave armed forces who still have their children going to local schools while the King has exported his grand children to foreign countries.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Our PM is a Bhola son of Mian Shareef. Please continue to support him till your last drop of blood and you will reign.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Yes, and the name of this dark force, destroying this country, is PMLN!! Having fun Mr Daad??
Could suggest a instant fix allow the private petrol pump owners to import through the Wagha border Amritsar is only 30 km from Lahore , there is plenty of petrol / diesel in India .
Instead of foaming at the mouth and making statements without any knowledge of how economics work please watch this interview with the federal minister for petroleum and then go ahead and make your decisions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9JpRvyrcWs
Unbelievable ignorance from Gov't supporters. Such incompetence has not been witnessed since CREATION of Pakistan. This tells you the level of stubbornness and hypocrisy from PMLN supporters... they are worse than PPP in ignorance.
Its a golden opportunity for Modi to send 1000 trucks of Petrol +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ to wagah and donate the sales proceeds to the benefit of IDPS.
PMLNs, enjoy your ques in front of patrol pumps all day. I am sure you are having a blast having to send your sisters and mothers to wait in lines, because shame is a trait not found in you. And in the end, thanks for dragging the whole nation down with you.
Congrats to all noon league voters for creating a new Pakistani record.
If the PM has any sense of responsibility he should have resigned or atleast fire the top bosses of Petrolium and Power ministry but he cleverly saved his cabinet members and made the bureaucrats a scapegoat.
@Istaburg: @Bohran Khan: If in doubt, blame PTI
It's quite unfortunate to be ruled by corrupt people and even worse to listen to their lies days in days out. People of Pakistan are destined for a life of disgrace until they stand up for their rights
I think the govt . is well intentioned but the cut prices fell too quickly , which lead to this mismanagement .
Price elasticity of demand - our managers need to lead this basics.
@raider This issue was developing way longer than 5 days. Please goole PSO default and see what you come up with.
@Sheikh: @bash gul: @Abu Noor: This is not about corrption but financial bankruptcy of PSO and to a bigger extent the foreign exchange crisis of Pakistan which is unable to pay for its imports including fuel. Please read the excelllent article by Khurram Hussain on fuel shortages in Dawn. It allows you to see how longstanding this problem has been. When they came to power they temporarily addressed the of circular debt by infusing 500 billion into the power sector but have been unable to address the root causes that lead to circular debt i.e. people are unwilling o pay for the power they consume and it built up again. The foreign exchange had dropped to minimal levels so they went to IMF. While it has gradually built up, if Pakistan is to get the next tranche, a leel of $15 billion was necessary and hence money was not released. So what is the solution when a country is unable to pay for its imports? It has to prioritize them. Is Pakistan willing to divert money it spends on arms to oil? If people are unwilling to pay for power then it has to be subsidized. Are people willing to divert the money for its large army to schools, ospitals and power sector subsidy? No. Hating the evil India and trying o snatch Kashmir is more important to you than having power, petrol, education and healthcare.
You have made your choice. As Bhutto used to say when he promised a 1000 years war - hum ghaas khayenge if need be. Well the time has come and it looks lke it is not tasting very good is it?
And no even if no metro bus was made or higheay was made - there still would ot be enough money to address ongoing need for power subsidy, fill the education gap and invest in health. Sector.
@Bohran Khan:
KPK was ruled for over 65 years by PML, PPP and ANP in coalition so any blame regarding its development goes on their shoulders .. Questions must be asked why only one city being developed at the expense of the whole country even if such developments are only cosmetic. Real development comes when strong societies are built not concrete buildings.
One must spead education, population control and address gender, religious discrimination first while increasing tan net.
typical pml-n supporter reply: "Tou imran khan ne KPK me kia kr lia?"
...and end result of meeting will be....a committee has been formed!
Useless govt.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Prime Minister is doing his best to resolve this issue.
Is this the best he can do? That is pathetic!
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Prime Minister is doing his best to resolve this issue.
Is this the best he can do? That is pathetic!
@Malveros:
The govt is trying it’s best. At least they didn’t promise to make Naya Pakistan in 90 days.
You are right. These "experienced" duffers and their imbecile darbaris did not make promises to make Naya Pakistan--they simply will take us back to the stone age without making any promises!
I see the hand of Mossad, RAW, CIA and other enemies of the state
@Ch.Allah Daad: So this too is because of "dark forces"? Not sure about any dark or light force here but NS supporters do really need to crawl out of their caves. Its 21st century dude, not the "Dark Ages"
Dear PM: Please do not use these three options tomorrow.One, do not make a committee.Two, do not call for APC. Three do not say all the black marketers/culprits will be tried in military courts.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Allah Daad sahib, please do not cover up for an incompetent Prime Minister. Deep in your heart you know he is responsible for this. And this fuel shortage is unacceptable. If it was some other country, Nawaz would be kicked out. But this, is the 'Land Of The Sheep'. So the populations will take any abuse given to them. Including you.
They will buy more oil, it will be over in a few days. For now deal with it. Start using bicycles like people of China and Holland.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Nice Try! This is another example of pathetic governance. Even in both wars with India petrol did not disappear from pumps!
@raider: Nobody goes to PTI ruled KPK for tourism because of total terrorist domination.
Whenever NS goes for Umrah people should understand a crisis in Pakistan is on the way.
@Bohran Khan: then why do you visit kpk for tourism if punjab claims to have more prestigious
@ ch Allah daad.
What dark forces pl elaborate. The dark forces have stolen his brain and brainwashed his stooges ?
This is incompetence....NS supporters or not....we have to call a spade a spade
The govt is trying it's best. At least they didn't promise to make Naya Pakistan in 90 days.
To all PTI Taliban supporters trying to insult the government, please look at the condition of KPK province under PTI leadership. Punjab is the most developed province of Pakistan-Afghanistan region, much more developed than KPK, so who takes the Credit for that? Obviously Noon League.
In wake of Petrol crises, if this PM has any shame then he would have resigned. If this PM has seen misery of the people searching for gas then he would have resigned. If this PM has seen his management style resulting is chaous at gas stations then he should have resigned.
Why not another APC on the crisis, Mr. Prime Minster? We already know you are incapable of making swift and right decisions.
What...so soon !!!
There is no need to cancel any Paratha schedules. Just get rid of those minsters who are responsible for this mess.
Why did it have to come to this stage.....Mr PM...gross negligence it is even Afghanistan doesn't have issues like this now.. There is only thing worse than corruption .. Incompetence , which has been aptly demonstrated by this Govt time and again.
Country this size cannot and should have to endure this nonsense... Solve real people problems PM sahib instead of going to Umras with protocols and building useless jangla bus and suspending people who told u of the problem a month in advance
The sheer ineptitude and incompetence of this administration is staggering.
Unfortunately for them, they can't blame this one on the Dharnas, unlike all other prior debacles (economy, infrastructure construction delays, law and order...)
Prime Minister is doing his best to resolve this issue. Dark forces and anarchists have destroyed our economy. It would take some time to bring country back on track.
PM conducts futile meetings as Musharraf would in his last reigning days, nobody would listen to him. Who would listen now?
Message to all N-leaguers and their voters...having fun yet? Wait till the summer comes...enjoy the heat!! But yes, do ride the metro and the motorway. They are waaaaay more important than the energy crisis!
note, these growing fat, don’t having time for so many days as crisis looming long ago and practically taking affect for last 5 days but pm in so exigency situation still awaiting tomorrow and as if supplementary issue
Shair Tail pee gia!!!
Tiger drank all oil!!! Shareef government outperformed Zardari government in all corruption records!!
He sacked those who already warned shahid khaqan abbasi for the shortage several times but NS don't sack him as he is his friend, DEKHO DEKHO KAUN AYA??
What is the meeting about Mr. Prime Minister? To discuss new ways to shield the petrol black marketeers right? Please carry on, let the common pakistani citizen suffer like this, the way he has been suffering for the past 65 years, my message to Pakistanis is, those of you who are able to do it...please leave the country and migrate abroad for at least a more secure life.
Please don't cancel your so called scheduled meeting......
PAK Army Zindabad......