Petrol crisis persists in Punjab, Sindh

LAHORE/KARACHI: Though President Zardari took notice of the shortage of petrol in different parts of the Punjab and Sindh and ordered smooth supplies, fuel shortage continued in different cities of the two provinces, including the provincial capitals. This is the fourth consecutive day of shortage.

Several filling stations in various cities of the Punjab and Sindh remained closed on Thursday as oil companies could not arrange fuel supplies for them. Traffic on the roads of Lahore, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lodhran, Khaewal, Vehari, Karachi, Hyderabad and other major cities of the two provinces remained thin. Public servants and students had to face hardships toreach their destinations as private transporters wrapped up their services due to shortage of fuel.

At some filling stations where supplies were delivered, long queues of vehicles and motorcycles were seen waiting for hours and even then were supplied at much lower scale in order to cater to the needs of maximum motorists.

A Representative of the Petrol Dealers Association Abdul Sami Khan told the media the crisis had resulted due to stoppage of supply of fuel from an oil refinery, which was closed for annual maintenance. He said government and concerned authorities were informed in advance that Attock Oil Refinery would remain closed from June 01, but no alternate arrangements were made.

Citizens have expressed grave concern over the shortage of petrol and said that despite notice and directives of President Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Oil Marketing Companies could not fully meet the demand of petrol pumps. Many motorists wanted a thorough probe into the artificial shortage and said the sole purpose was to black market the commodity.