Islamabad, March 6 (NationPress) Officials from the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) have issued a serious warning that petrol stations nationwide could begin to close within days if fuel supply issues are not addressed, as reported by local media outlets.

During a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, the association's Central Secretary General, Chaudhry Irfan Elahi, expressed concern over the troubling decline in fuel availability. According to Pakistan's prominent daily, 'The Express Tribune,' diesel supplies have plummeted to a mere 20 percent, and petrol supplies are also significantly reduced.

Elahi pointed out that rising fuel prices are a direct result of this supply disruption, with petrol prices increasing by up to Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 35 and diesel prices rising by PKR 17.

Nauman Majeed, Central Punjab President of PPDA, confirmed that petrol supply has decreased by 50 percent and accused certain private companies of hoarding petroleum products.

PPDA Lahore President Jehanzaib Malik urged the government to guarantee consistent fuel deliveries to petrol stations, stating, 'We demand that supply be aligned with our needs,' and noted that oil marketing companies have ceased deliveries.

Malik criticized government inspections targeting petrol stations rather than supply depots, emphasizing that dealers do not wish for the public to suffer due to fuel shortages.

He added, 'If the government fails to restore supply, petrol pumps will begin to close as soon as Monday.' Malik also suggested that companies have halted petroleum product deliveries to advocate for price hikes.

On Thursday, the federal government of Pakistan instructed all provincial administrations to carry out physical inspections and monitor retail petrol stations through their respective Deputy Commissioners to prevent the hoarding of petroleum products for unjust profit, according to another major daily, 'Dawn.'

Additionally, the Pakistani government has appointed Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, a Grade-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, as the Secretary of the Petroleum Division, a role that had been vacant for several months. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) reassured the public that Pakistan has sufficient stocks of petroleum products to satisfy national demand and that there is no need for panic buying or hoarding, as reported by Dawn.

Furthermore, the government of Pakistan is considering transitioning the petrol pricing mechanism from its current fortnightly schedule to a weekly basis. The administration is also contemplating providing financial support to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to ensure adequate imports of products, while encouraging both government and private sectors to adopt work-from-home arrangements to decrease oil consumption.