Oil refineries, firms told to boost supplies

Amid tight demand-supply conditions of high-speed diesel during the wheat harvesting season, the government has asked the oil marketing companies and refineries to beef up supplies of major transport fuels ahead of Eidul Fitr.

In an advisory issued on the weekend, the petroleum division directed "all OMCs to enhance their logistics movement from Karachi to upcountry locations so that sufficient stocks would be maintained at OMC depots".

It also directed all the OMCs and refineries to operate their depots and installations even during the Eid holidays, except the first and second day of Eid, while the retail outlets would remain operational without any holiday.

The petroleum division also told the OMCs and refineries that depots and installations would remain operational on Sunday (May 24) in case Eidul Fitr falls (May 25) in order to ensure uninterrupted supplies at all retail outlets.

The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and Oil Companies Advisory Council ( OCAC) were asked to ensure that all the retail outlets remain operational throughout the country without any break.

Govt issues advisory to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products during Eid at all retail outlets

The advisory followed recent shortages of HSD supplies in many parts of the country, as the farmers and associated supply chain struggled to meet their wheat harvesting and transport requirements in the middle of uncertain weather conditions.

The OMCs blamed each other and the petroleum division's directorate general of oil for failing to meet their obligations and unilateral changes by the officials of the directorate general of oil to the consensus decisions of the industry and the government.