ISLAMABAD: A severe fuel supply disruption has emerged as the lockdown imposed to counter the PTI march on the federal capital has crippled the transportation of petroleum products, particularly in Punjab and Islamabad.
Government barricades on highways, motorways, and city roads have hampered the movement of oil tankers, forcing many to offload at the nearest pumps to mitigate safety risks. Private companies have also reduced fleet deployment, heightening the supply chain breakdown.
Fuel shortages are already hitting major economic hubs, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, as retail pumps run dry. With private oil marketing companies struggling to cope, state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is under pressure to maintain supplies and avert a full-blown crisis.
PSO raised alarms at federal, provincial, and regulatory levels, urging immediate intervention. The company called on Punjab’s chief secretary, police officials, and district administrations to prioritize fuel transportation and ensure tanker access to key regions, particularly Lahore Division.
“The closure of highways has caused significant delays in fuel delivery, risking stock depletion at stations,” PSO warned. It emphasized that Lahore, as an economic hub, faces dire consequences, with essential services and daily operations already affected.
The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), representing oil marketing companies and refineries, issued a similar SOS to the administrations of Islamabad and Punjab, highlighting the urgency of facilitating fuel transportation to avert a potential oil crisis.
Immediate action is needed to ensure unrestricted tanker passage, stabilize fuel supplies, and mitigate the broader economic fallout of this transportation bottleneck.
Story by Khaleeq Kiani
