Petrol shortage: OGRA issues show-cause notices to 6 oil marketing companies

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has issued show-cause notices to oil marketing companies (OMCs) seeking a response within 24 hours due to a shortage of supply of petroleum products in the country.

According to OGRA spokesperson Imran Ghaznavi, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has issued notices to Shell Pakistan Limited, Attock Petroleum Limited and Total Parco Pakistan Limited.

Later, OGRA also issued show-cause notices to three more oil manufacturing companies, Gas & Oil, Puma and Hascol, on complaints of shortage of oil supply at retail outlets on the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal.

The authority sought response from the oil marketing companies within 24 hours.

OGRA also informed the Chief Secretaries of the four provinces, Gilgit and Azad Kashmir in a letter that the shortage of petroleum products was being reported in electronic and print media at the petrol pumps of licensed OMCs. The people are facing difficulties.

It said that in the light of the directives of the Ministry of Energy, OGRA had already directed OMCs to ensure availability of petroleum products.

OGRA said that in view of the current situation, the concerned District Coordination Officers (DCOs) would be directed to take action against the petrol pumps involved in hoarding under their purview under the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977.

In addition, details of such retail outlets are requested to be provided so that OGRA can take necessary action against OMCs or dealers.

It may be recalled that in a letter sent to OGRA by the Petroleum Division on June 1, it was stated that OMCs were seeking the country to reap the financial benefits of a possible increase in petroleum products from July 1, 2020. Supply of products at retail outlets across the country may be reduced.

It said that as a regulator to avoid a crisis situation, OGRA should instruct OMCs to ensure supply of stocks at every retail outlet in the country.

The letter said that in this regard, OGRA may also deploy teams to verify stocks at OMCs depots/terminals/outlets.

Later in the day, a letter was sent by OGRA to the oil marketing companies directing them to ensure the supply of petroleum products.

It said that electronic and print media were reporting on the shortage in the supply of petroleum products to consumers and HDIP also confirmed that petrol was not available or in short supply at many retail outlets. This is affecting the supply to consumers.

OGRA had said that oil marketing companies are directed to ensure immediate availability of petroleum products so that consumers do not face any difficulty.

Also read: Petrol prices reduce in Pakistan