LAHORE: Major cities in Punjab have started facing shortage of petroleum products after the depots in Pattoki and Sheikhupura stopped supplies due to closure of roads because of the PTI protest.

Stakeholders apprehend that the situation may worsen on Tuesday (today) and onward, if the roads are not opened to allow entry of oil tankers.

“Around 40 per cent of the total 460 petrol pumps in Lahore have either no or meagre quantity of petrol, diesel etc. And if the current situation persists, there would be no petrol in Lahore on Wednesday or Thursday,” Pakistan Petroleum Dealers’ Association Information Secretary Khwaja Atif told Dawn on Monday.

“We are really worried about this situation,” he says, adding that the government will have to open roads if it wants to keep Lahore and other major cities in Punjab functional.

According to him, as many as 140 petrol pumps in Gujranwala are also witnessing shortage of petrol. Some of them have gone totally dry, he maintains, adding that fuel supplies to Lahore are made both from Pattoki and Sheikhupura depots.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza says the administration will ensure petrol supplies to Lahore by all means.

“I have talked to the officers of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO), assuring them of entry of tankers into the city very soon,” he says.

“I will also talk to the office-bearers of petroleum dealers’ association to solve their problems in this regard,” he adds.

Meanwhile, bikers and motorists in various parts of Lahore faced difficulties in getting petrol.

“I, finally succeeded in getting petrol at a filling station in Johar Town after being refused by the staff at three other outlets,” a motorcyclist told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2024