PM orders to eliminate artificial petrol shortage immediately

Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the shortage of petroleum products and directed to end the artificial shortage of petrol across the country.

According to details, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet in which the Prime Minister expressed anger over the shortage of petroleum products and said that artificial shortage and stockpiling was not acceptable.

The Prime Minister took notice while chairing the meeting of the Federal Cabinet and issued immediate instructions to Federal Minister Omar Ayub regarding petroleum products.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister made it clear that no concession would be made to those responsible, be it OGRA or any other body.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the Petroleum Division, OGRA to restore the supply of petrol in two to three days.

Cabinet decided to take strict action against the hoarders and also the cabinet has also ordered to confiscate the stored petrol and make it available to the public.

As per the directions of the Cabinet, steps should be taken to maintain 21-day stock in all oil companies and legal action and arrests should be made against the oil companies involved in hoarding.

Sources said that the cabinet directed the Petroleum Division to form raid teams and OGRA, FIA, District Administration Petroleum Division officials would participate in the raid teams.

According to sources, a briefing was given to the cabinet by the Ministry of Energy Asad Omar in which it was informed that 600,000 tonnes of oil was kept for June 2019 and 850,000 tonnes was kept for June 2020.

Yesterday, Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub formed a committee headed by DG Oil to determine those responsible for the shortage and to inspect depots of oil marketing companies and retailers.

On the recommendations of the committee, stern action will be taken against those responsible. Oil Marketing Companies Directed to Supply Additional Petrol in Malakand, Faisalabad and Hyderabad Divisions.

The petroleum ministry stated that the country has ample reserves of petrol, 14,536 metric tons of usable petrol is available in the country. This petrol is enough to meet the needs of the country for the next ten days, the ministry added.

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