Punjab government has imposed a ban on open sale of petrol in bottles and also directed the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to ensure supply of 3.5 million litres petrol for Lahore in next few days. This was decided in a meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal, held here on Monday to review the supply and availability of petrol and petroleum products, disclosed an official.
PSO has been directed to ensure supply of 2 million litres petrol on January 20 and 1.5 million litres petrol on January 21 for Lahore. PSO has also been directed to ensure provision of petrol on its 122 petrol pumps in Lahore. The meeting was told that 1.6 million litres petrol has reached in Lahore on January 19.
The representative of Shell informed the meeting that 20,000 metric ton petrol has reached Karachi the previous day. The meeting decided that all oil companies will submit reports regarding provision of petrol to DCO on daily basis. A special cell will be set up in DCO office for monitoring the situation of supply of petrol.
According to the decisions of the meeting, no petrol pump will remain closed whereas under section 144, a ban has been imposed on open sale of petrol in bottles. The meeting directed the district government Lahore to ensure making functional 169 CNG stations in Lahore and also allowing entry to oil tankers in cities in day time.
Earlier DCO Lahore Captain Muhammad Usman (Retd.) presented a detailed report about supply of petroleum products in Lahore. Provincial Home Secretary Azam Suleman, Commissioner Lahore Division Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Additional Secretary IC and I Khursheed Ali Zaidi, representatives of PSO Riasat Ali, Yasir Ali of Shell, Malik Noor Khan of Total PARCO and Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association Lahore Samee-ud-Din attended the meeting.