The shortage of petrol continued in the city as more than 40 percent fuel stations remained closed on Saturday. The public wandered in search of petrol but with little avail. The black-marketing of petrol continued and illegal fuel sellers minted money from people by selling petrol for up to Rs 110 per litre. Several petrol pumps in Model Town, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Iqbal Town, Ferozepur Road did not have petrol supplies and some of them rationed fuel. Petrol pumps having fuel were giving only one litre to motorcycles and five to six litres to cars.
At some places, people were seen arguing with the petrol station staff for getting more fuel. “I have to travel around city and one litre would not be enough for me,” said a motorcyclist Fiaz Ahmed, adding he stood for 10 minutes in the queue and now once again he would have to waste time searching for fuel.
Though, the CNG stations remained open throughout the city and motorists were getting gas, people having petrol-run vehicles faced problems. “I do not have a CNG kit in my vehicle and using petrol, it has become difficult for me to run my car,” said a bank executive Sadeed Ather, adding that the petrol pumps were giving limited amount of petrol to vehicles and this was causing problem to people.
A motorcyclist said he purchased petrol in black for Rs 100 per litre. Contrary to public comments, the petrol pump management said they did not have enough fuel to cater to the metropolitan’s demand. “We want to entertain maximum people and it is possible only when we ration fuel,” said a salesman at Model Town fuel station.
