Long queues as petrol shortage hits Lahore city

Consumers accuse govt of failing to control gasoline price

LAHORE: Following sugar and wheat flour, fuel shortage hits Lahore as many petrol stations in different areas of the provincial capital run dry owing to suspension of supply during Eid holidays, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

Citizens from various areas of the provincial metropolis complained that no fuel was available in their neighbourhoods. A citizen from the densely populated neighbourhood of north Lahore – China Scheme, Ahmad Raza complained that he had to wait for almost half an hour to get a few litres of petrol for his car.

“Almost all the petrol stations in the area have been run dry except a Pakistan State Oil (PSO) petrol station. Earlier, citizens had to buy the CNG after waiting in queues at gas stations but now citizens have to buy petrol in the same way,” he lamented.

Petrol, diesel prices slashed by Rs5 per litre

Another citizen from Township, Rehman Khan, pointed out that panic buying was witnessed at petrol stations as several pumps had already stopped sales owing to non-availability of stocks. He highlighted petrol stations’ staff was telling consumers that hardly any petrol was supplied to petrol pumps during Eid holidays which had created a shortage of petroleum products in the city.

Manager of an international oil marketing company’s (OMC) petrol station disclosed that companies were not entertaining orders as they do in normal days. “We have placed an order for both petrol and diesel before Eidul Fitr holidays but are still awaiting supply. Company officials are not telling us the exact status of our orders,” he maintained.

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Secretary Information Khawaja Asif told The Tribune that earlier there was a scarcity of diesel in the city. Disruption of supply owing to Eid holidays or squeezed production has created a serious shortage of petroleum products in the market.

As per conservative estimates, nearly 50% of products were being supplied against demand.

He claimed that a massive drop in crude oil price in international markets is among the various reasons for the current crisis including the suspension of supply and limited processing by refineries. The government should take immediate measures to rein in shortage as any delay could further aggravate the crisis.

PTI govt reduces petrol price by Rs15 per litre

Similar complaints were also made by several other citizens bearing the brunt of fuel shortage. Citizens underlined that during the holy month the government failed to control commodity prices despite promulgating the stricter law against profiteering and hoarding.

Now after Ramazan, shortage of petroleum products had surfaced during Eid holidays which put a question mark over the government and state machinery’s performance.

Similarly, Muhammad Amir, an Eden Housing resident, said one after another crisis was hitting citizens but the government was not paying attention to core issues. The prolonged lockdown has already made people’s lives miserable. Profiteering, hoarding and artificial shortages were further increasing public worries. He highlighted that he had to stand in a queue for nearly 20 minutes to buy just two litres petrol for his bike.

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His friend, Sheikh Arif, said thanks to the coronavirus-induced lockdown that life was not normal in the city. All public parks, shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants and recreational spots were closed otherwise current petroleum products crisis would have multiple effects.

“The government should make take some concrete measures and settle such routines issues permanently otherwise there was no difference between the current government of change and their predecessors,” he criticised.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2020.