People standing in queues to get petrol at a petrol pum in Karachi. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS
People were seen waiting in long queues, hoping to get some fuel as 25 per cent of the petrol pumps in the city shut down on Monday evening due to the shortage of petrol.
Petrol dealers claimed that they received no fuel supply on Sunday, and only received half of their usual supply on Monday, leading to a shortage in petrol.
As was witnessed in Lahore, scuffles broke out between motorists who were vying to get petrol, Express News correspondent Aamir farooq reported.
Earlier, facing public anger over petrol shortages across the country, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi promised on Monday that the crisis, which has led to never-ending queues outside petrol stations, would be resolved by this week.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Abbasi said the shortage was a result of exceptional petrol demand in January.
“In January, the daily demand of petrol rose from 12,000 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes,” he said. “As a result, there has been a shortage and we are managing it.”
Further, explaining the petrol shortage, Abbasi said since there was a fall in prices, people bought more petrol and hence there was a decrease in reserves.”
Other than a fall in prices, the minister said, tripping of Parco refinery and a delay in fuel shipment to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) contributed to the fuel shortage.
Now, Abbasi said, the petrol supply has been stabilised with 15,600 tonnes, 30 per cent more than the actual demand in December 2014. Hence, the crises will soon end, he added.
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Can the government please stop lying to everyone?!
They simply deferred purchase of oil and used up contingency reserve to get fiscal space without any regard for national security let alone the inconvenience it might cause to public and the harm it has already done to economy.
Lets say a war breaks out in the Persian Gulf today, can the officials answer how will Pakistan cater to its oil needs when they have depleted the contingency reserve normally maintained for two months usage?
The news for shortage of petrol broke out on Twitter around 15:00 hrs and from 17:00 hrs people started standing in the queues to get petrol.
Fortunately, today is the CNG day and people also took the liberty to get their CNG tanks filled.
After shortage of petrol in Punjab and KPK, the demand of petrol/CNG have increased in Karachi manifolds.
People will remain touchy on this issue for the entire week unless they are satisfied that there is no more shortage of petrol in Punjab and KPK.