Motorists are facing hardships on account of acute shortage of petrol, which has entered the third consecutive day on Wednesday due to non-payment to OMCs by the government. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is also not available in some parts of the city, while dealers were involved in black marketing, and reaping huge profits, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder.
Motorcyclists were the worst victims, as they had to run from pillar to post for getting petrol. Most of the filling stations were either closed or had stopped fuel supply to motorists despite official announcement to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products.
The spokesman of petroleum association told this scribe that marketing companies could not do the business because the ministry of finance was constantly not clearing their extraordinary dues and payments. The spokesman said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and government should take stern action against those who created artificial shortage and price hike in the open market he added.
During the survey rickshaw drivers Shah Nawaz, Ali Muhammad and Ali Sher said that the dealers, taking advantage of the situation, are selling the product at higher prices across the city against the fixed rates. They further revealed that the dealers are creating artificial shortage to earn huge profits from the innocent consumers mostly the rickshaw drivers and motorcyclists. The drivers demanded of the Punjab government to launch massive crackdown against profiteers in order to improve the gas supply situation at the fixed price.