Islamabad, Nov 26: Fuel Shortage Looms Over Punjab and Islamabad as Pumps Face Depletion. Fuel shortages in the area could result from pump stations in Punjab, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi running out of fuel.
The petroleum supply network in important cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi has been interrupted by the government’s most recent lockdown, which was implemented to stop a massive protest in the federal capital.
Officials from the Petroleum Dealers Association have said that although supplies to Rawalpindi stations will run out in a matter of days, Lahore’s stock at some pumps was critically low. The region’s fuel supplies have been severely hampered by the blockages, which have also limited fuel supply.
Khawaja Atif, secretary of the Petroleum Dealers Association, pointed out that Punjab needs 50 million litres of fuel every day, but Lahore uses more than five million litres per day. Unless highways are reopened to replenish supply, the current stoppage might have serious repercussions.
According to Chaudhry Zafar Elahi, president of the Petroleum Dealers Association North, gasoline supplies, which normally last three to four days, are currently running out quickly. To guarantee deliveries, he encouraged officials to keep the roads open for at least a few hours each day.
Petrol stations in smaller cities including Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Sialkot have run out of petrol since oil tanker operations have stopped, which has made the situation worse. Thousands of tankers are still stuck and being refused entry into Punjab, according to the Oil Tanker Contractors Association.
Although petrol is readily available in Islamabad, the lack of fresh supply from depots as a result of road closures has sparked worries about possible shortages. The absence of secure routes for tankers has been chastised by the Oil Companies Advisory Council, which has also warned that if highway obstructions continue, the shortfall will only get worse.
Long-term fuel shortages will severely impair Punjab’s economy. The province’s main commercial center, Lahore, will probably be the most affected city in the region.
