Minister directs OMCs to ensure petrol supply to upcountry areas

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain Monday directed all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to ensure petrol supply on war footing so as to avert further petrol shortage in any part of the country. Talking to a delegation of oil retailers who operate 71 petrol pumps in Azad Kashmir region Asim clarified the shortage of petrol arose due do the breakdown of platformer unit of Attock Oil Refinery (ARL), no backup storage with small OMCs and the circular debt issue. He said directions have already been issued to all the OMCs to supply their entire available petrol stocks to the retailers. The ARL has been directed to repair their damaged platformer unit on urgent basis while as the PSO, Shell and Cheveron have been directed to ensure they operate their outlets at 100 percent capacity. Retailers involved in black marketing practices would be dealt with very strictly and their pumps would be closed down. – Dailytimes