Oil shortage looms in Lahore as tankers face restrictions

The oil industry has sounded the alarm over a looming fuel shortage in Lahore due to restrictions on the movement of oil tankers. The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), representing refineries, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and a pipeline firm, expressed concerns over the Traffic Police's ban on heavy vehicles from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, which has also impacted petroleum oil and lubricant (POL) tankers.

This restriction has severely disrupted fuel deliveries to over 400 petrol pumps in Lahore, a city with a population exceeding 5 million. The OCAC noted that Karachi, which enforces a similar ban, exempts POL tankers, allowing an uninterrupted fuel supply.

In a formal appeal to the Punjab chief secretary, the OCAC called for an urgent exemption for POL tankers in Lahore to prevent a full-blown fuel crisis and ensure public convenience. The council urged the provincial government to immediately review its advisory and protect the city's fuel supply chain.

In November 2024, Lahore faced a similar situation when ongoing protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led to significant road blockages, causing a severe disruption in the supply of petroleum products across Punjab, including Lahore and the twin cities.

Khawaja Aatif, Secretary of the Petroleum Dealers Association, had highlighted that Lahore's daily petrol consumption exceeds 5 million litres, and the total daily consumption in Punjab is close to 50 million litres.

In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Petroleum had sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, requesting immediate action to address the shortage.

The letter specifically called for the restoration of crude oil supply from the Attock Oil Refinery to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply throughout the province.