ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub said that sufficient petrol stock for 10 days was available in the country, and strict action would be taken against "petrol mafia" that was creating artificial petrol crisis.

While responding to the members of the National Assembly on Monday, the minister said that 65,000 metric tons of oil would reach the country in the next two days.

He claimed that some oil marketing companies and retailers were creating artificial shortages of petrol and diesel to make illicit profits. Ayub said the government had decided to expose those companies and dealers, and take action against them with the help of regulators and the provincial governments.

He said that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been given direction to check the stock of petrol station.

"We will seal and cancel the licenses of those petrol pumps who are not selling petrol despite having stocks. Five per cent petrol stations are trying to create artificial crisis and we are taking action against them."

The minister said that sufficient petrol was available in the country, and urged the people to avoid any panic buying of petrol in the country.

He said that the country had ample reserves of petrol, 14,536 metric tons of usable petrol was available in the country.

This petrol is enough to meet the needs of the country for the next 10 days, he said.