Petrol shortage irks citizens

Friday, December 26, 2008

By Jawwad Rizvi

LAHORE: Petrol was unavailable at majority of the pumps in the city on Thursday which created huge difficulties for the motorists. The petrol pumps owners said despite the indents sent to the companies the fresh supply had not arrived due to which the sale of petrol was suspended. In a survey conducted by The Newsfrom the different localities of the city, has found the petrol was notavailable while the petrol stations were selling diesel only. The owners and managers said they had sent the supply indents to their respective companies but not received, causing the shortage of petrol. It has found almost 70 per cent petrol pumps of the city had not received fresh supply of petrol. In Lahore, almost 220 petrol pumps are operating. Thus petrol was not available over 150 pumps of different localities. The pump owners said due to distortions in supply line of petrol from companies, the people had been facing problems. They said storing petrol was not beneficial for the petrol pumps as the prices of it had registered a declining trend. They said the oil companies were not timely supplying petrol to them despite getting payments in advance. They said the oil companies were supplying half of the quantity against their total demand. Meanwhile, in the wake of unavailability of petrol at pumps, the sale of it continued across the city openly through other channels. The unauthorised dealers have been selling adulterated petrol for Rs 70 to Rs 80 per liter. The motorcyclists were compelled to buy this adulterated petrol at higher prices.Contrary to this, an official of a private oil marketing company on the condition of anonymity confirmed the shortage of petrol in the country. He said the petrol pumps dealers and owners themselves were sending less demand of petrol as compared to the past. He pointed out the pumps dealers and owners were keeping limited quantity with them in order to avoid loses when the price of petrol decreased. Current shortage was due to the Christmas holiday and the petrol was not supplied from the depot, he said adding that now the fresh supply would start from Friday (today). He added it would again stop on Saturday because of the national holiday. He said currently country had been facing petrol shortage due to the previous backlog which occurred after delay in the payments to the oil refineries.