Petrol shortage in the country is costing the economy over Rs 10 billion loss per day, a survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed. The loss ranges from transportation issues leading to increasing absenteeism from offices in the public and private sector as well as shortage of perishables as farm to market transport becomes a challenge and the rise in load-shedding to industry as the government diverts CNG to domestic transporters from the textile sector.
Transport remained severely compromised with petrol shortage and attendance has been steadily declining as private vehicles and public transport run out of petrol. A few ambulances are operational in major cities and the police have been forced to abandon their routine patrolling which almost certainly would lead to higher crime though it has not yet been quantified, sources said. Food shortage is expected in the bazaars and many families have begun stockpiling food, it emerged.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman S M Tanveer told Business Recorder that petrol shortage has resulted in increasing energy crisis and load-shedding has increased to 10 hours which would negatively impact exports. He stated that prior to the petrol crisis textile industry was being provided 6 hours of gas and 18 hours electricity, however now 14 hours electricity is being supplied and with gas being diverted to CNG stations the situation would become financially untenable.
To deal with the severe petrol shortage, the government has restored gas supply to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Lahore and it is expected that the government may allow restoration of gas supply to the CNG stations of the twin cities just for two or three days, an official of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited told Business Recorder.
Chairman APTMA further stated that the country''s textile exports stand around $13.7 billion with an average of around $1 billion per month however this is almost certainly not going to be met in January. The APTMA chairman said the industry is working at 33 percent capacity, however this will further decline following energy crisis.
Chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum, Javed Bilwani, said petroleum shortage has begun to cripple exporters as they are finding it difficult to send their consignments and resultantly lose orders. Once a customer is lost it is difficult to get him back, he added. Malik Asif, a trader at Islamabad fruit and vegetable market, stated that the petrol shortage has reduced supply of vegetables and fruits in the market by 50 percent during past two days and the prices of vegetables have increased by 25 to 30 percent.
He added that Islamabad fruit and vegetable market is the biggest market in upper Punjab from where they are being supplied to KP, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Majority of petrol pumps in Rawalpindi remained closed, while a few were operating in the federal capital where long queues of vehicles were seen waiting for petrol for hours. Majority of people said that scuffles on petrol stations were also witnessed, adding that police was called to control the crowd, as matters quickly slipped beyond the control of the petrol pump owners.
They said in some parts of the twin cities price of petrol was as high as Rs 150 per litre against Rs 79 per litre. Khawaja Asif, Secretary Information Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association said fuel stations that are open for business are only providing petrol up to Rs 100 for each motorbike and up to Rs 500 for each car, due to their limited supply.