On Tuesday, many petrol stations in the cities of Punjab were closed, causing inconvenience for commuters searching for fuel. However, State Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, refuted reports of a nationwide fuel shortage.
Despite a recent increase of Rs35 per litre in petrol and diesel prices, consumers are still facing difficulties due to limited supply.
This situation mirrors a similar occurrence earlier this month prior to the price hike. On January 29, the government raised the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs35 per litre in response to the significant devaluation of the rupee against the dollar.
The devaluation of the local currency against the dollar reached historic lows after the unofficial cap on the greenback was removed. Consumers in cities such as Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Shakargarh, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, and Gojra have encountered difficulties obtaining fuel. Petrol stations that remained operational have experienced long lines of vehicles, with reports of owners rationing the commodity by only providing limited amounts to customers.
According to Geo, the State Minister for Petroleum has issued a warning against hoarding, as the fuel supply is already precarious. The minister stated that hoarders should be prepared for the possibility of having their licenses revoked.
He said that there is a 20-day supply of petrol and a 25-day supply of diesel in the country. He urged the public to report any petrol stations that may be restricting supply for profit.
Malik emphasized that there is no shortage of petrol in the country and confirmed that there will be no increase in the prices of petroleum products before February 15.
