LAHORE: While Lahore witnessed improvement in the petrol and diesel stocks on Tuesday after entry of oil-tankers was allowed into the city on Monday night, the fuel shortage reportedly persists in other areas of Punjab, especially the remote districts.

Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables and fruits have started surging in the city due to limited arrival of the trucks carrying these items to Badami Bagh and other wholesale markets. Similarly, loose milk supply in the city from the neighbouring towns is yet to be improved.

About the petrol and diesel stocks in the city, Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Musa Raza told Dawn that the supplies were restored last night.

However, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association information secretary Khawaja Atif says that though the fuel supplies to Lahore have improved, the issue cannot be resolved fully till restoration of supplies on a daily basis, as usual.

Prices of vegetables, fruits surge due to roads closure

“Lahore’s petrol and diesel demand is around 6 million litres daily. Last night we received 2.4 million litres that fulfilled the requirement of the filling stations having either no or meager quantity of petrol. But the outlets already having petrol and diesel may go dry on Wednesday (today) if the supplies remain squeezed,” he explained.

He insists that around 30 to 40pc pumps are facing such a situation in Lahore.

Mr Atif expressed grave concern over acute shortage of petrol and diesel in remote districts. To a question, he said the situation in Faisalabad is good, as the city is being supplied petrol from the nearby Gatti depot.

Supplies in Gujranawal have also improved, whereas Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot and other districts are in trouble in terms of fuel supplies, he adds.

The closure of roads, due to the PTI protests, has also affected supplies of vegetables, fruits, loose milk and other daily-use items. Due to the squeezed supplies, the prices of such items, especially vegetables and fruits, have also been showing an upward trend since Sunday.

“I bought potato for Rs230 per kg on Monday, whereas its price was Rs150 per kg last week,” says a man on Tuesday, adding that the rates of other vegetables have also increased.

A shopkeeper in a city market blamed squeezed supplies for the surge in vegetable prices.

“We purchased potato at Rs1,000 (per 5kg) from Badami Bagh market on Tuesday. Likewise, tomato price has reached to Rs1,400 to Rs1,500 (per 5kg). Similarly, the onion price also surged to Rs900 (per 5kg) in the wholesale market,” he said.

“We are getting Rs20 to 40 per kg profit in retail market,” he claimed, urging the government to improve supplies, besides taking action against hoarders.

A loose milk seller in Johar town said the supplies of milk to the city from the neighbouring towns must be improved by allowing entry of milk carriers/tanks.

“If the political unrest persists, the situation may worsen in the next few days,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024