They said that some OMCs
have stopped supply to their affiliated service station dealer network
by almost 50 percent in interior Sindh, Punjab and NWFP over the last
week. A number of these dealer sites have now run dry.
President Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), Abdul Sami
Khan explained that the demands of petrol and diesel will not be met
properly until all OMCs resume their full fuel supply to the petrol
station networks . He alleged the petroleum supply has been decreased
by Shell, Total, Admore leading to a
crisis-like situation, particularly in rural areas. In the big cities,
petroleum dealers have arranged oil products mutually for the pumps
facing fuel shortage, but this assistance is not sustainable if the
current situation prevails and metropolis particularly Karachi may face
petrol crisis in the coming days, he added.
"There are around 20 to 25 petrol pumps in Karachi facing shortage of
supply for the last couple of days, but the association have maintained
cooperation with its members by maintaining supply to them," Mr Khan
informed.
PPDA chief brushed aside allegations that petroleum dealers are
involved in black-marketing, hoarding and smuggling of the petroleum
products and said that the association would take stern measures
against any dealer involved in such activities. Mr Khan demanded the
government should strict borders¹ vigilance to stop smuggling of the
petroleum products from NWFP to Afghanistan. The NWFP is facing
shortage of diesels at retail outlets of different OMCs because diesel
is being smuggled to Afghanistan at Rs75 per litre, while in Pakistan
it is sold at Rs 50.20 per litre.
On the other hand, official sources in Pakistan State Oil (PSO) told
the supply condition will be improved soon at its petrol pumps
particularly because the oil marketing company has acquired 55,000
metric tonne diesel
and 30,000 metric tonne mogas will be obtained by 25 June.
Official
added the state-run OMC is also providing fuel products to even those
petrol pumps that are affiliated with other OMCs, resulting the oil
shortage have emerged in its own petrol pumps. He informed that the
overall market share of PSO has increased to 71 percent in current
month as compared to 59 percent in the previous month, as it is
supplying products to petrol pumps of other OMCs.
There are around 4,500 petrol pumps in the country while the state-own
oil marketing company operates around 3,600 retail outlets in different
cities. Spokesman of Shell Pakistan Limited, Abid Syed Ibrahim
rejected allegations made by petroleum dealers and said the OMCs are
continuously providing fuel supply to its all affiliated dealers.
He clarified that the supply of very few petrol pumps is halted by OMCs
in the country. "Some dealers are not paying our bills so their fuel
supply was stopped while supply was also discontinued temporarily to
those petrol pumps that are undergoing technical maintenance," he
added. Besides PSO and Shell, there are seven OMCs functioning with
networks in the country.
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