PESHAWAR: The shortage of compressed natural gas (CNG) and petrol has deepened in the provincial metropolis, with no imminent relief in sight. Most petrol stations had set up the banners inscribed with “petrol not available,” while people continued to drive from one fuel station to another in the hope of finding the fuel.
A few petrol pumps were seen operational but they only allowed motorcyclists to purchase not more than two litres of petrol, as they feared the possibility of hoarding and wanted to facilitate as many people as possible with the limited petrol they had.
The CNG filling stations also wore a deserted look because of supply-drop due to severe winter and power loadshedding, while some stations that remained open were offering gas at a very low pressure, which was why the consumers had to purchase it in small quantity.
A large number of vehicles remained off the roads due to the unavailability of fuel and gas, compelling them to use public transport or taxis. On the other hand, the public transporters - consuming diesel - seized on the situation by increasing the fares and fleecing the public.
As soon as the CNG stations were closed, petrol consumption increased while the filling stations and POL traders decreased their supplies due to small profit ratio. The experts are of the view that the government should take steps and make sure smooth supply of oil. They said the basic reason behind the non-supply of the commodity was closure of oil depot by the multinational companies in Pakistan.
The situation angered consumers who criticised the PPP-led government for its failure to ensure smooth supply of fuel. They said it had failed on all fronts. “Whenever oil prices are increased, the filling stations waste no time to revise their rates but adopt a different strategy after fearing any decrease in prices and stop selling the commodity to force consumers into buying oil at a much higher rate,” Mohammad Rizwan, a motorist wandering here and there to find fuel, told The News on Friday.
“The shortage of petroleum products has brought things to a standstill because I cannot drive my car out of my house, which is heavily affecting my business,” stated Malak Zaman, a businessman.
Khaista Meer Khan, an attendant of a patient at the Lady Reading Hospital, said that due to the current shortage of gas and petrol, it had become difficult for them to travel in a taxicab as the drivers had doubled the fare.
Abdus Sattar of Gulberg said the government could easily solve the gas problem by realising the plan about pipeline expansion to Peshawar through Darra Adamkhel, which would solve the CNG shortage problem. He went on to say that the government needed to explore more gas fields in the province as the Frontier province was blessed with resources, saying it would address the problems of the people of the country in general and province in particular.
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