KARACHI, Feb 20: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are exploring Afghan market and studying the demand, infrastructure requirements and pricing of petroleum products there.

Pakistan follows Iran, Turkmenistan and some states of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that have already started sending their petroleum products to Afghanistan.

“We are receiving enquiries for defence related fuels from Afghanistan,” the Chairman and Chief Executive, Shell Pakistan Limited, Farooq Rahmatullah told Dawn on Wednesday.

He pointed out that so far none of the enquiry pertaining to commercial use of fuel has been received. “Shell intends to complete its study on Afghanistan in a month time,” he added.

Meanwhile, sources in Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said that the company has already started sending defence related products to Afghanistan but the company is more interested in selling lubricants there. Lubricants are the key products in industry and transport. However, the PSO is yet to receive any enquiries of its products for commercial purpose, the sources said.

Farooq said that diesel was being smuggled from Pakistan to Afghanistan but it has now stopped due to tension at the borders.