Life in Pakistan majorly disrupted as petrol pumps run dry, oil companies head for collapse

Pakistan is going through one crisis after another. It is gripped in debt, a failed economy and these are some of the problems it is facing

Lahore, Feb 10: Life in Pakistan has been majorly disrupted with petrol pumps in the Punjab region running out of fuel.

Lives of the people in the cash-strapped nation was further disrupted with petrol pumps running dry. In many places, according to reports there has been no petrol in the pumps for over a month. The situation remains terrible a report in the Dawn said.

There is shortage gasoline in Punjab, Pakistan despite assurances that there's adequate supply and the government saying that it is taking action against hoarders.

The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has blamed all oil marketing companies for failing to ensure appropriate supply in response to the demand. This in in turn has left pumps empty and forcing drivers to go for gas in urban areas, the Dawn also reported.

The OMC Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has however rejected this claim and said that some gas stations were participating in stock piling gasoline to create fake shortages in a bid to increase earnings the light of an anticipating hike in prices of gasoline.The report further said that amidst the shortages due to poor economy, may petrol pumps in major and small cities of Punjab have been shut. The situation also appaers to be bad in certain large towns, such as Lahore, Faisalbad and Gujrawnwala, where a number of petrol pumps have been running on a poor or non-existent supply of fuel for many days due to pressure from oil marketing companies.

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association's secretary of information Khawaja Atif told Dawn, " in Lahore, around 70 of the total 450 pumps are dry. The areas where the pumps are closed due to shortage of petrol include Shahdra, Wagah, Litton Road and Jain Mandar."

Petrol according to the local media is severely in limited supply in several cities of Pakistan. The majority of the gas stations are shut, whole only a few are open. These however provide a very limited quantity of gasoline and there are long lines cars and bikes.

The reeling economic crisis and the devaluing of the Pakistan Rupee have pushed all companies of Pakistan to the brink of a collapse.

In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a number of gasoline crisis that has caused hardship to the people. In 2020, the country faced a shortage of gasoline due to a decrease in imports and issues with distribution. This in turn led to long lines at fuel stations and increased prices.