Commuters queue for fuel at PSO station amid a countrywide strike. —AFP

Commuters panic as strike by oil tanker operators causes fuel shortage

Oil tanker owners say authorities are exploiting the June 25 Ahmedpur accident to obtain bribes from their drivers.
Published July 26, 2017

A strike by oil tanker operators created a shortage of petroleum products across the country, causing panic among the people who were lining up at gas stations to make bulk purchases of petrol and diesel.

Operators say the protest was a response to tougher measures imposed by transportation police following last month's incident in which 215 people were killed in an oil tanker accident. The tanker involved was not properly maintained and the driver's licence was invalid.

Since then, authorities have imposed fines on tankers they claim are not fit to transport oil.

Oil tanker owners say police and other officials are exploiting the June 25 accident to obtain bribes from their drivers.

Commuters queue for fuel at PSO station amid a countrywide strike. —AFP
Commuters queue for fuel at PSO station amid a countrywide strike. —AFP

Oil tankers park in a terminal near Karachi port amid a countrywide strike by the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association. — AFP
Oil tankers park in a terminal near Karachi port amid a countrywide strike by the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association. — AFP

A guard sits at a closed Pakistan State Oil petrol station in Islamabad following fuel shortages amid a countrywide strike by oil tankers association. —AFP
A guard sits at a closed Pakistan State Oil petrol station in Islamabad following fuel shortages amid a countrywide strike by oil tankers association. —AFP

Commuters queue for fuel at a PSO station amid a countrywide strike. —AFP
Commuters queue for fuel at a PSO station amid a countrywide strike. —AFP

Commuters queue for fuel at a PSO station in Islamabad. —AFP
Commuters queue for fuel at a PSO station in Islamabad. —AFP

Oil tankers park in a terminal amid a countrywide strike by the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association. —AFP
Oil tankers park in a terminal amid a countrywide strike by the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association. —AFP