Due to roadblocks and other preventive measures taken by the government in response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad, fuel supply across the country has been severely disrupted, leading to the risk of shortages in several cities.
Khawaja Atif, Secretary of the Petroleum Dealers Association, stated that there is a potential shortage of petroleum products in Lahore and Punjab. Although some petrol stations in Lahore are running low on stock, it hasn’t run out completely yet. Atif highlighted that Lahore’s daily fuel consumption exceeds five million liters, with the entire Punjab region consuming around 50 million liters daily. He warned that continued disruptions could have serious consequences and urged the government to open the roads to restore fuel supply.
The Lahore division, a major economic hub, would be particularly affected by any further delays in replenishing fuel supplies, disrupting essential services and daily operations.
In Rawalpindi, Chaudhry Zafar Elahi, President of the Petroleum Dealers Association North, expressed concern over dwindling petrol stock at filling stations due to road closures. Petrol pumps typically have reserves for three to four days, but the situation has worsened due to minimal fuel deliveries over the past three days. Elahi called for temporary road openings to ensure fuel deliveries and warned that police vehicles and other transport could soon face shortages.
In Islamabad, the epicenter of the PTI protest, the situation remains stable for now. Raja Waseem, District President of the Petroleum Dealers Association, noted that minimal fuel sales are occurring due to the lack of traffic. However, he cautioned that increased demand could lead to issues, and no new fuel supply is reaching Islamabad’s petrol stations due to road closures.
The Oil Tanker Contractors Association also reported that the supply of petrol and diesel has been affected in Islamabad, Gilgit, and Kohala, with thousands of tankers waiting for roads to reopen. Several cities, including Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot, and Kharian, have been without fuel for the past three days.
In response to the situation, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) assured the public that it is in contact with all stakeholders to improve fuel supply. The Ministry of Energy has instructed the district administrations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore to develop plans to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply despite the ongoing roadblocks.
The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has also urged the Punjab administration and law enforcement agencies to provide safe routes for fuel tankers to prevent further shortages. The OCAC highlighted that the situation has worsened in the last two days due to road closures severely delaying fuel transportation.
