KARACHI: Sales of petrol during September 2016 were recorded at 563,000 tonnes below the highest ever sales of 566,274 tonnes recorded in May 2016.

Out of 563,000 tonnes, the share of imported petrol was 422,000 tonnes while local refineries supplied 145,000 tonnes, Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) CEO M Ilyas Fazil said.

He attributed brisk sales of petrol to rising sales of cars — including imported ones which are mostly below 880cc — and other petrol driven vehicles.

He said a number of car owners had switched over to petrol from CNG due to gas load shedding. Higher generator imports are also putting pressure on the higher usage of petrol.

Mr Fazil said country’s stocks of petrol now stand at 220,000 tonnes which are enough to meet the demand for next 12 days. A Pakistan State Oil tanker is currently discharging petrol at Keamari, he added.

Mr Fazil said stock movement of petrol from Karachi to upcountry supply areas continues unabated and “the country remains well supplied.”

Pakistan has achieved highest ever import of 484,207 tonnes of motor gasoline in July 2016.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016