Karachi’s fuel panic buying grows as gas stations closed

KARACHI: The city was hit by gasoline “panic buying” on Monday and motorists built long queues at fuel stations amid suspicions of a 50 percent cut in supply for the city following severe shortages of petroleum products in Punjab and KPK, witnesses said.
“There is no shortage as such because import parcels have arrived and some are on their way. People are actually getting panicky,” said a spokesperson at Shell Pakistan. “It is just a rumour that petrol is being transported to Punjab.”
However, Abdul Sami Khan of Petroleum Dealers Association said motor gasoline is running out in the metropolis much like other cities in Punjab and KPK.
“Fuel stations in the city were supplied with only half of their daily requirements on Monday,” Khan said. “Big supplies were being transported to Punjab to restore their supplies,” he added.
Witnesses said a number of petrol stations are running out of supplies and some were shut down.
“Supply shortage left some 15 percent of fuel stations in the city out of stock,” Khan said. He, however, added that a majority of the stations were closed on fear of possible law and order situation that could arise following fuel shortages.
“A number of fuel stations reported that they had to close their outlets as consumers brawled with salesmen to fetch petrol,” he said. “We contacted police but they refused to extend any help in this regard.”
Khan said the oil marketing companies (OMCs) are required to maintain 30-day stock but most of the OMCs maintained more than one week’s stock.
Despite repeated attempts, no one at any OMC could comment on the situation.
A petroleum dealer said that this was an artificial shortage created in Karachi only to meet the demand of Punjab. He added that Sindh government should take notice of the situation and ensure the smooth fuel supply.