Shortage of petrol: minister asks OMCs to devise strategy to avert recurrence

The Federal Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Syed Naveed Qamar chaired a meeting with all the Oil Marketing Companies to devise a strategy to avert recurrence of petrol shortage in the country in future and to examine the causes that led to petrol shortage in some parts of the country.
The minister conveyed government of Pakistan's serious concerns on petroleum shortage and difficulties faced by the general public. He advised that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) should take all necessary measures to avert such a situation in the future.
The OMCs were of the view that shortages occurred due to washing away of approach roads and bridges leading to the country's largest PARCO refinery because of floods. Further Indus and National Highways were also blocked at some places by flood water restricting oil supplies from Karachi to upcountry especially PARCO fed area of Punjab. Shortage of storage capacity with new Oil Marketing Companies also contributed to these shortages.
The minister emphasised upon building up storages by OMCs of 20 days of each product as per their liability under the license conditions. The minister further directed the OMCs to build up stocks of all products prior to the forthcoming winter season ie, by 31-10-2010 as CNG availability would possibly be less during winter. OGRA was also advised to take action against the OMCs who do not fulfil license conditions. Chairman OGRA Tauqir Sadiq, Secretary Petroleum Imtiaz Kazi and Director General Oil Sabir Hussain were also present in the meeting.-PR