Fuel dealers warn of artificial diesel shortage

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fuel dealers say an artificial shortage of high-speed diesel is hitting filling stations across the country, and they are urging the government to step in before the situation worsens.

In a letter to the chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Petrol Pump Dealers Association said oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been limiting diesel supplies for the past week. According to the dealers, some companies are delivering very small amounts, while others are not supplying fuel at all. Because of this, many pumps are running dry and unable to serve customers. Dealers say they place orders that later get canceled, and fuel trucks are left waiting for hours without being loaded. They believe the shortage is not natural but artificial, created by companies ahead of a possible increase in fuel prices expected later this month. The association said the supply cuts are so severe that stations are “hardly able to meet the public’s needs.” They have asked Ogra to direct OMCs to provide diesel based on each pump’s regular sales so that stations can operate normally again.

The letter, sent on November 14 by the association’s vice chairman, was also shared with senior officials, including the petroleum minister, the petroleum secretary, the director general oil and the secretary of the Oil Companies Advisory Council.