LAHORE: The oil marketing companies (OMCs) have sought the entry of oil tankers to Lahore round the clock and urged the government to exempt them from any timeline related to the POL supply to fuel stations in a bid to avert any issue.
In a letter to the Punjab chief secretary, the Oil Companies Advisory Council — an independent body formed by refineries, OMCs, and a pipeline company — stated that the traffic police in Lahore have imposed a ban on the entry of heavy traffic to the city between 6am to 11pm.
Oil tankers are to deliver fuel to over 400 petrol pumps across Lahore, and the ban hampers consistent fuel supply to more than five million users in the city.
“While a similar restriction also exists in Karachi, the POL tankers delivering fuel within city limits have been granted exemption. This allowance is essential for maintaining uninterrupted fuel availability, and it has proven effective in Karachi,” the letter explains.
It requests the Punjab government and Lahore city district administration to revise the advisory by exempting the POL tankers engaged in the movement of fuel to petrol stations within Lahore city district revenue limits. “The exemption will ensure the city’s fuel supply chain remains uninterrupted and prevent any inconvenience to the public at large.”
COMMISSIONER: Lahore Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood on Tuesday paid a visit to the office of National Logistic Cell — the contractor of the Walton Road rehabilitation project — in connection with the Walton Road construction and timelines review and presided over a meeting there.
Nespak and CBD officers briefed the commissioner that the asphalt work would be done at the rate of 1,100 tonnes daily.
They also said that street light electric poles are being installed speedily, whereas 1,500 metres of cable will be laid daily. They told the commissioner that 80 per cent of the road has been completed, while the main road is fully ready, and work on green belts is underway.
The 4.2km trunk sewerage line on Walton Road has been completed, whereas the Old Nullah has been relocated.
The Walton Road Major Ishaq Shaheed flyover has already been opened for traffic.
OPERATION: A joint team of LDA and the city administration, led by the Model Town AC, on Tuesday foiled a bid to illegally possess nearly eight kanals of state land at the LDA Avenue-1 Housing Scheme in Lahore, according to a spokesman.
The team demolished recently unlawfully constructed structures on the land, according to a spokesman.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2025