ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, has ordered the cancellation of licenses for fuel stations that create artificial shortages and engage in hoarding.
A high-level meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the situation regarding petroleum products. The meeting included a comprehensive review of fuel supply and reserves throughout the country.
Attendees comprised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, chief secretaries from all four provinces, as well as representatives from Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior officials.
The Ministry of Petroleum briefed the meeting on the evolving regional situation and its potential impact on petroleum products. The briefing assured that Pakistan possesses sufficient reserves of petroleum products to meet the nation’s needs, and there is currently no risk of shortage.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took serious notice of the situation and directed provincial governments to take immediate and stringent legal action against those involved in hoarding petroleum products. He emphasised that any petrol station found engaging in the unethical practice of creating artificial shortages should be promptly sealed, and its license revoked.
The Prime Minister assigned the Petroleum Minister the task of visiting all provinces. In conjunction with the provincial administrations, they are to prepare a comprehensive action plan to conserve fuel and ensure its uninterrupted supply to the public.
To modernise the system, the Prime Minister also instructed the development of a special digital dashboard. This platform will enable real-time monitoring of petroleum product movement, with data being shared with the provinces on an ongoing basis.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervez Malik, Owais Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and Governor of the State Bank Jamil Ahmed.
