ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The Ministry of Petroleum has refused to allow oil marketing companies to import petrol on their own in order to meet domestic shortages caused by the closure of a number of refineries during Eid holidays, sources told Dawn.

Petrol shortage is getting severe in the NWFP, Islamabad and some other parts of the country. The government has made a plan to ensure supply more to major cities than rural areas.

A source said less importance was being paid to petrol because the country’s transport system and majority of vehicles run on either diesel or CNG.