All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association has warned Pakistan State Oil to stop using National Logistic Cell (NLC) fleet for petroleum supplies by Monday (tomorrow); otherwise the APOTOA will not carry petroleum products of PSO. Despite the APOTOA had agreed in a meeting held on Thursday last at the PSO house that all 500 contractors, including the NLC, will follow 'One Q-System' for filling the TLs. The APOTOA later demanded termination of PSO contract with the NLC.
At present, out of a fleet of 8,000 private carriages 200 belong to the NLC. Earlier, on February 20, 2002, petroleum products' supply of the PSO had been suspended following a strike call given by the APOTOA and PSO succeeded in managing alternative arrangements to resume supply to the upcountry through the NLC tankers. The PSO management and Oil Tanker Carriage Association (OTCA) held a meeting on Thursday last at PSO house Karachi. The meeting was held to decide how to handle the liquid cargo filling operations which remained unsuccessful.
Chairman APOTOA Yousaf Shahwani reportedly expressed his disagreement to the decision made at the meeting after it ended. He issued a statement and demanded that the PSO should stop utilizing the NLC fleet for the shipment of liquid cargo in Karachi and Pakistan in general. Earlier, a PSO spokesperson stated as a caring corporate, the PSO would continue its efforts to increase the number of compliant tank Lorries in the fuel transportation system to ensure the integrity of the public infrastructure and protection of human life. The Oil Takers Association held two strikes last year, one in July and the other one in October.