ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s oil marketing companies have warned the government of a potential petrol shortage, saying the country has fuel reserves sufficient for only 15 days and calling for urgent intervention to prevent disruptions in supply.
In a letter marked “Most Urgent” and addressed to Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik on July 15, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) cautioned that the country’s petrol supply situation has become unusually critical.
According to the council, Pakistan currently holds approximately 370,000 metric tons of motor spirit (petrol), an amount it says is equivalent to about 15 days of national demand.
The OCAC warned that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, the domestic supply of petrol could be adversely affected.
Concerns Over Import Delays
The advisory council attributed the growing risk of shortages to delays in the customs clearance process, particularly those linked to the WeBOC (Web-Based One Customs) system, which it said has slowed the release of imported petrol shipments.
According to the oil companies, delays in clearing imported cargoes are creating uncertainty in maintaining adequate fuel stocks across the country.
The council further warned that if three scheduled imported petrol cargoes fail to arrive or are delayed, the country’s fuel supply chain could face a significant disruption.
Financial Challenges
In addition to logistical issues, the oil industry highlighted severe financial pressures affecting the sector.
According to the letter, outstanding payments totaling Rs66.7 billion have placed oil marketing companies under considerable financial strain, limiting their ability to maintain inventory and manage imports efficiently.
Industry representatives said the combination of delayed payments, customs bottlenecks, and rising operational costs has increased the risk of supply interruptions.
Multiple Factors Increasing Risk
The OCAC identified several factors contributing to the current situation, including:
- Critically low petrol inventories.
- Delays in customs clearance of imported fuel.
- Increased domestic demand for petroleum products.
- Significant financial pressures on oil marketing companies.
According to the council, these combined challenges could disrupt the continuous availability of petrol if they are not addressed promptly.
Call for Government Intervention
The oil companies have urged the federal government and relevant authorities to take immediate steps to facilitate customs clearance, resolve outstanding financial issues, and ensure the timely arrival of imported fuel cargoes.
They argued that swift government action is essential to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies and prevent shortages that could affect transportation, businesses, agriculture, and other sectors of the economy.
As of the time of reporting, the government had not issued an official response to the concerns raised in the OCAC’s letter.
Pakistan relies on a combination of locally refined petroleum products and imported fuel to meet domestic demand. Industry experts note that maintaining adequate strategic fuel reserves and ensuring timely imports are critical to avoiding supply disruptions, particularly during periods of increased consumption.
The warning from the oil companies comes amid broader concerns over fuel distribution and logistics in recent weeks. Whether the country experiences any actual shortage will depend on the government’s response, the clearance of pending imports, and the timely arrival of scheduled fuel cargoes.
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