Govt assures adequate fuel reserves, PM orders crackdown on hoarders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed provincial governments to take strict legal action against hoarders of petroleum products, warning that any petrol pump found involved in creating an artificial shortage will be immediately sealed. The Ministry of Petroleum provided a detailed briefing to the participants on the country’s stock of petroleum products in light of the changing regional situation. The meeting was informed that adequate reserves of petroleum products exist within the country to meet national requirements, allaying fears of any immediate supply issues.

Chairing a high-level meeting on petroleum products in Islamabad, the Prime Minister issued clear instructions to crack down on those attempting to exploit the public. “Whoever is involved in this despicable business of artificial shortage at petrol pumps should be shut down immediately, their license cancelled, and legal action taken against them,” he stated.

To ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply to the public, the Prime Minister directed the Minister for Petroleum to visit the provinces. Working in collaboration with provincial governments, the minister will develop a comprehensive plan and strategy for the conservation and uninterrupted provision of petroleum products.

In a move to enhance transparency and monitoring, the Prime Minister also ordered the creation of a dashboard to track the movement of petroleum products. This system will enable real-time data sharing with the provinces and allow for effective surveillance of fuel transportation across the country.

The high-level meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Owais Khan Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, as well as the chief secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with senior government officials.