Chairing a meeting to review petroleum matters, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday directed all the concerned ministries to ensure seamless coordination to ensure steady supply of petrol in all parts of the country.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and the secretaries concerned. The meeting reviewed supply and demand situation of petroleum for the next two months.
The prime minister also directed the concerned departments to ensure that the general public is kept informed about the current supply situation through media to dispel any impression of shortage. He said strict action would be taken against all those responsible for creating this hardship for the people. He cancelled the visit of Switzerland to keep a watch on petroleum situation in the country where he was to attend the World Economic Forum.
Meanwhile, the heads of the oil marketing companies have assured the secretary petroleum that they will ensure continued supply of petrol at their retail outlets. A review meeting on the latest situation of the petrol supply to retails outlets held in the ministry of petroleum and natural resources on Wednesday.
The meeting was chaired by Acting Secretary Petroleum Arshad Mirza. Heads of all oil marketing companies including PSO, Shell, Caltax, Total Parco, Byco, Zoom, Askar, Hascol, Admore, OTCL, APL and other OMCs were present in the meeting on video link from the Karachi.
The secretary petroleum was informed that on Thursday up till 7pm in the evening 11,500 Metric Ton (MT) petrol had been delivered to the pumps against the target of 15500 MT for Wednesday. Remaining 4,000 MT will also be delivered till midnight.
It may be noted that usual supply of petrol was recorded 12,000MT per day before the shortage. It was reported by OMCs that queues have drastically reduced at the retail outlets with enhanced supply of petrol. The OMCs assured their full support and committed to continue smooth supply of petrol at their respective petrol pumps. The secretary petroleum expressed his satisfaction over the improving situation of petrol supply in the country. He also appreciated Shell Pakistan Chairman Omer Yaqoob Sheikh for his cooperation in coping with the crisis situation.
Byco Representative informed that Byco will supply 30,000 MT of black oil for power sector within next few days. The secretary petroleum on this occasion said that the monitoring cell established in the ministry of petroleum & natural resources will monitor the petrol supply chain round the clock and a report after every three hours will be updated.
It was confirmed by the representatives of PSO that petrol sale in Karachi was as per normal routine and there was no problem of oil supply at pumps in Karachi. It was also decided in the meeting that all OMCs will make it sure that the tanks of retail outlets remain filled on the last four days of the month. There should be no shortage of petrol on the pretext of expected reduction of prices from February 1. He said the help of the local district administration may also be sought in this regard. The review meetings through video links with OMCs would continue to held on daily basis.