LAHORE, Dec 27: Petrol and diesel crisis intensified in the city on Saturday with more pumps running out of stocks.

Most of the 600 petrol pumps had no oil to sell and there was rush of vehicles at the pumps with stocks. The motorists had to visit a number of pumps before they could find one with stocks. There were also complaints of overcharging at some pumps.

Petroleum Dealers Association blamed the government for shortage of petrol and diesel in the city. Association office-bearers Malik Fahim and Chaudhry Shahzad said the short supply of POL products was not limited to Lahore alone; it was countrywide because the government had not arranged import of crude oil in accordance with the needs of the country.

They said dealers made payments for petrol and diesel in advance, but their requirements were not being met because of low oil stocks available with refineries. They said petrol and diesel shortage was likely to continue till the end of January when crude oil purchased after reduction in prices would arrive.