What we now need is immediate action over this snowballing crisis that is rapidly draining motorists of patience
NOTTINGHAM: While Pakistan continues to struggle with its chronic power cuts, the debilitating and severe petrol crisis has brought the country to a standstill. This shortage will further add pressure on the government, which already remains accountable for numerous issues Pakistan faces today. Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has blamed the substantially high demand for petrol following a massive reduction in price for the crisis. On the other hand, experts conclude that the government’s failure to accumulate adequate stocks is the reason behind the petrol shortage. All other reports were quick to hold Pakistan State Oil responsible for failing to secure further credit to pay for imports beyond its existing credit of about £2 billion. The Pakistani populace is being bombarded with haphazard reasoning for the petroleum shortage.
Indeed, the shortage has created yet another deep dent in the gross mismanagement and corrupt administration of the current government. We do not need hollow apologies and empty promises; the prime minister chaired a high-level, important-looking Cobra-style meeting with officials, expressing strong displeasure over the matter. What we now need is immediate action over this snowballing crisis that is rapidly draining motorists of patience and threatening to engulf the entire country in a state of complete closure.
Barrister Mobeen Shah
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.
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