Ogra should also play its role and make it a requirement for OMCs to maintain reasonable amounts of petrol
KARACHI: Pakistan is facing an acute petroleum crisis and people are running from pillar to post in order to buy petrol. This is happening at a time when the world oil prices have hit the rock bottom and the Pakistani government has also reduced oil prices.
Thankfully, the Prime Minister and the government have taken notice of this and some kind of an inquiry is taking place. A committee is said to have been formed which will look into the causes that led to the shortage of petroleum products. In my opinion, Ogra should also play its due role and make it a requirement for all oil marketing companies to maintain reasonable amounts of petrol for public use in the case of an unprecedented crisis.
If oil marketing companies did not have sufficient petrol reserves then how were they meeting the needs of their own petrol pumps? It is my understanding that every country maintains a reasonable stock of petrol to avert such crisis situations. Why is it then that the people of Pakistan are suffering so egregiously?
Syed Ovais Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2020.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
