RAWALPINDI: Fuel shortage seems to be staring at the face of the twin cities and the northern parts of the country after All Pakistan Oil Contractors Association went on strike following the breakdown of talks with the district administration over tankers’ entry timings into city areas.

The association stopped supply on Wednesday morning and parked its tankers on G.T. Road near Rawat.

However, the district administration invited the association representatives for talks but both did not budge from their positions.

During negotiations, the association also parked the oil tankers around the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. On the other hand, petrol filling stations are left with a day or two of stock, and fuel shortage may hit Rawalpindi and Islamabad if the strike continued for a day or more. Some petrol stations even started rationing.

The district administration had asked the oil tankers to enter the garrison city between 10pm and 6am but the association demanded that the duration should be increased as the timing was insufficient for them to supply oil and diesel to all fuel stations.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that the administration had changed the timing for oil tankers to manage traffic in the city and cantonment areas and had asked them to enter after 10pm and end the supply operation by 6am.

Talks with district admin on tankers’ entry timing into city fail; protest to continue today

However, he said the tankers’ association wanted to enter the city areas after 4pm and refused to accept the new timings, adding that the association’s representatives were invited for talks after they parked their vehicles on G.T. Road but they did not accept the new timetable.

He said the district administration conducted a survey of the city and cantonment areas and found traffic rush on the main roads in the morning and evening due to presence of heavy vehicles. He said the association wanted the timings to be increased, claiming that it had to supply fuel to all stations which they could not do in the given duration.

“We gave them time to consider the new timetable but they refused and staged a strike. We cannot compromise on this issue as traffic rush was increasing and was creating problems for the residents,” the deputy commissioner said.

On the other hand, All Pakistan Oil Contractors Association General Secretary Noman Butt said the Rawalpindi administration had banned entry of oil tankers during the day, which was not feasible.

Talks were also held and letters sent to the petroleum secretary but no one showed seriousness in resolving the issue.

He said the oil tankers could not supply petrol and diesel in the current time, adding that the strike would continue till their demands were met.

Supply of petroleum products to the twin cities, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad airport and power plants has also been cut off. Oil tanker owners and contractors will also protest at Rawat T-Chowk on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2020