LAHORE: Shortage of petrol owing to a strike by oil tankers and cut in price disrupted city’s routine, forcing motorists to throng a number of filling stations on Tuesday.

Long queues of motorists were witnessed at various pumps situated at Gulberg, Johar Town, Ferozepur Road and other localities.

However, Lahore DCO Muhammad Usman dispelled the impression of petrol shortage in city owing to strike.

“Around 10 million litres of petrol is available in the city and there is no shortage of it at a majority of pumps,” he claimed while talking to Dawn.

On the other hand, this reporter witnessed various filling stations full of motorists and motorcyclists.

“First I visited a pump at Ferozepur Road that was closed due to non-availability of petrol. Then I arrived here and found this station selling fuel and now I am waiting for my turn,” Salman, a motorist, told Dawn at a pump located at Guru Mangat Road in Gulberg. The same situation was witnessed at some petrol pumps near Wapda Town, Main Boulevard (Johar Town) and some other areas.

The DCO said of total 317 pumps, 17 to 18 were closed in routine due to certain reasons. In Lahore, a majority of people didn’t buy petrol on Monday, deciding to purchase it on Tuesday at reduced rate.

“That is why there was a rush of motorists at pumps. But that was not sort of panic buying,” he said.

The DCO said of 317 pumps, around 34 are owned by the Parco (Total). Of these 34, 17 were closed due to company’s own management issue and not because of the strike or reduction in prices.

Besides these, some other pumps owned by various companies were closed in routine and not due to strike. And a majority of pumps (PSO, Shell, Caltex) were opened and selling petrol, he added.

He said the CDGL teams on various public complaints had also sealed seven pumps for not selling fuel despite its availability.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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