AS rumours are rife about an impending increase in the prices of petroleum products, oil shortage has once again engulfed the country including the main cities mainly because of hoarding of stocks and reportedly failure of several companies to import the commodities. Long queues outside petrol pumps clearly indicate that the fuel situation is alarming. Much to the disappointment of the consumers, even the expensive fuel is not available to them as per their demand. While many petrol pumps are closed while those open are only providing limited fuel to each vehicle.
In a presser on Wednesday, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik asserted that the country had sufficient fuel supplies, admitting also that some elements are resorting to hoarding. In fact this situation would not have developed had the government not bowed to the hoarders last month and raised the price of petrol and diesel by thirty-five rupees per litre ahead of the scheduled date of revising oil prices.
The petrol pumps are stopping the supply to customers as they plan to store the commodity and sell it after a likely increase in the price in the coming days. If the situation is not addressed, the people will find it difficult to even reach their workplaces and the students to the educational institutions. Already the country is faced with a dire economic situation and shutting down of offices and industries will only add to our woes. We have no doubt in saying that there is an artificial shortage of petrol and diesel and this can be addressed by taking a firm action against the oil dealers’ mafia.
The petroleum division must act and do so decisively by cancelling the license of the oil dealers involved in hoarding of fuel. Financial penalties should also be imposed on them to avert such a situation in future. As the oil prices in the international market are hovering around eighty five dollars per barrel, there should not be any further increase in petroleum prices in the country. The government must extend relief to the masses where it can.
