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WEEKLY
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| Lahore consumers face misery |
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Monday, February 02, 2009
Expected price fall leads to acute petrol shortage
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Once again, a severe shortage of petrol has clutched the provincial metropolis, as most of the filling stations owners did not buy new stocks on January 31, on fears of an expected decrease in the prices of petroleum products.
Though it was Sunday and most of the offices, schools and city markets were closed, the shortage created serious inconvenience for the citizens who came out on roads on their vehicles especially motorcycles.
A visit to different city areas revealed that majority of the filling stations remained closed throughout the day and their owners and staffers claimed that the shortage was caused by a short supply of petrol. On the other hand, the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), which had earlier announced to launch a crackdown on filling stations that refused to sell petrol, played the role of a silent spectator and left the citizens on the mercy of the ‘mafia’.
The shortage of petroleum products has also became a regular feature of the provincial capital especially on the last one or two days of the month and most of the petroleum dealers avoid placing orders if there was a chance of decrease in POL prices. On the other hand, in case of a raise in POL products, the petroleum dealers also close down their sales on the last day of a month to sell their products on high rates.
Last month, the same phenomenon hit the city as a number of filling stations in various localities either refused to sell petrol or closed down their business, claiming they had not purchased fresh stock due to the expected decrease in price. Following this, Lahore DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta issued a press statement warning all the filling station owners of the city to end the artificial shortage of petrol and start sales, otherwise, special magistrates would conduct raids and seal the filling stations.
Lahorites termed the DCO’s statement an eyewash as no action had taken against any of the filling station owners then as well as now. The shortage of petroleum is expected to continue on Monday.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
