Oil companies have warned of a possible petrol shortage in Pakistan and urged the government to intervene immediately.
In an “urgent” letter sent to Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) said the country’s petrol supply situation has become critically serious.
According to the letter, Pakistan currently has around 370,000 metric tonnes of motor spirit (petrol) in stock, enough to meet national demand for only 15 days.
The oil industry warned that petrol supplies could be disrupted if immediate corrective measures are not taken.
OCAC said delays in the WeBOC customs clearance system are slowing the release of imported petrol shipments, placing additional pressure on the supply chain.
The council warned that if three imported petrol cargoes are not cleared on time, the country’s fuel supply could face a significant disruption.
Oil companies also said outstanding payments of Rs66.7 billion have pushed oil marketing companies into severe financial stress.
According to industry sources, critically low reserves, customs clearance delays, rising demand and financial constraints are increasing the risk of fuel supply disruptions.
