Still no fuel for Pindi’s suburbs

Supply improves in the city after strong warnings to OMCs

RAWALPINDI: Over a week after it started, the fuel crisis in Rawalpindi appeared to ease on Tuesday as most fuel pumps in the city resumed filling on Tuesday.

However, the situation remained bad in many suburban areas of the garrison city where consumers stood in long queues for the precious commodity.

The management of filling stations told The Express Tribune that supply from the oil marketing companies (OMCs) has improved over the past few days. However, they added that filling stations are still not being supplied fuel as per their set quota.

Therefore, many fuel stations, excluding the state-owned OMCs, are providing fuel to consumers in limited quantities of up to 2.5 litres only.

It was further observed that many private petroleum agencies in the suburban areas are selling petrol and diesel at higher than the officially announced rates.

Further, the Rawalpindi district administration has so far issued red notices to some 350 filling stations in the district. Pump owners have been warned to ensure the uninterrupted fuel supply to consumers.

The notice read that stations found violating the orders will be fined and could even be sealed.

Civil Defence Department (CDD) District Officer (DO) Talib Hussain said that some 120 petrol pumps in the Rawalpindi city were issued red notices on Tuesday. He added that it was the responsibility of the fuel pump owners to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel or else they can be fined up to Rs1 million.

The official added that they have also launched a crackdown against the mafia selling petrol at higher than the official rates. Moreover, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Captain (retired) Anwarul Haq said that the petrol supply issue faced by many companies has been resolved by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

He added that the administration will continue checking pumps to see if they are abiding by the administration's orders. The DC also warned violators of strict action.

Meanwhile, a senior leader of All Pakistan Petroleum Retailers Association (APPRA) Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha told state-owned news agency APP that some OMCs have deliberately reduced the supply of fuel and are allegedly hoarding petroleum products as they wanted the government to revise fuel prices upwards during the current month.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2020.