Pakistan shaken by fuel crisis

Islamabad, Jan 18, 2015: Pakistan has a new crisis: widespread fuel shortages that have raised tempers all across the country and forced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sack top officials. Newspapers have reported scuffles at fuel stations in major cities as hundreds of cars and two-wheelers lined up for petrol and diesel - only to be told that none was available. The Dawn said many motorists in cities such as Lahore, Faislabad, Islamabad, Sialkot and Multan spent the night queuing up at the handful of petrol pumps still open. A fuming Sharif, on his return from Saudi Arabia Saturday after a two-day visit, sacked four officials including Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed, his deputy Naeem Malik and Pakistan State Oil chief Amjad Janjua. Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, however, kept his job, apparently because of his closeness to Sharif. Newspapers reported that the prime minister had directed provincial governments to check black-marketing of petrol. It was decided to expedite the supply and delivery of petrol. The Daily Times quoted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as admitting that the government failed to anticipate the fuel crisis. He said he was ashamed to see long queues of cars at petrol stations. The crisis began about a week ago -- amid the winter chill. "As of now, public has to run from one filling station to another in search of petrol in many areas of the country," the Daily Times said. "If available, it is being sold on exorbitant prices. "The dealers and petrol pumps owners are taking full advantage of the situation in the absence of effective government checks," it said. Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that compressed natural gas (CNG) stations would reopen in Lahore in a bid to meet the fuel shortage. According to newspapers, a large number of filling stations have remained shut for six long days after exhausting their stock.