LAHORE, Nov 15: The managing director of the Pak Arab Refinery Company (Parco) on Thursday told the Lahore High Court that Euro II compliant diesel was easily available in the country and buses could be run with this fuel.

The MD stated that the Euro II compliant diesel was environment friendly fuel and had been verified by refinery companies.

The court was hearing a petition against import/purchase of 1,200 buses by the Punjab government to be run on the Euro II diesel.

The court adjourned further hearing till Dec 6 and extended stay against the opening of tenders for the purchase of the buses. Previously the court had allowed the government to import only 100 buses for Metro Bus System (MBS).

M/s Gujranwala City Tours (pvt) filed the petition and contended that the government wanted to purchase 1,200 Euro II compliant diesel buses, which would be given to private bus operators on soft-term loan basis.

The petitioner said the government would spend a huge amount from public money on purchasing such buses which were to be run by the fuel called “Euro II compliant diesel” only. He said the required fuel was not available in Punjab.

He pointed out that even oil refineries had no ability to produce this diesel in near future. He prayed that the government should be restrained from purchasing these buses.