Petroleum Minister orders contingency plans to prevent fuel supply disruptions

Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik directed relevant authorities Thursday to make advance arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products amid possible disruptions caused by law-and-order issues or road closures.

Malik chaired a meeting on the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products and implementation of the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme, according to an official statement.

The minister thanked petroleum dealers' associations for their full cooperation in implementing the fuel relief scheme and directed authorities to ensure contingency arrangements for transportation and supply.

"If law-and-order conditions deteriorate or roads are closed, the supply of petroleum products should not be disrupted," Malik said, according to the statement.

Pakistan Railways will make maximum train wagons available to transport diesel in case of road closures, with special arrangements planned to maintain supplies to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Additional Secretary Railways said at the meeting.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country's largest fuel retailer, was directed to ensure adequate stocks at its depots. PSO said additional petroleum products had already been stored at key depots in anticipation of possible disruptions.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has also established a special control room to monitor the continuous availability of petroleum products.

Malik directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted crude oil supplies to Attock Refinery and the transportation of finished petroleum products from the refinery.

The meeting was also briefed on implementation of the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme. Of about 10,000 petrol stations covered by the program, payments had been made to more than 8,500 stations, officials said.

Payments to petrol stations are continuing on a daily basis, according to the briefing.

Malik directed authorities to immediately resolve remaining issues, including minor problems with account numbers, and complete payments to the remaining petrol stations. He also instructed OGRA to take action against petrol stations that deny eligible consumers benefits under the fuel relief program.

Petroleum dealers' associations assured the government of continued cooperation in implementing the scheme. Malik Khuda Baksh, chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, said the scheme was progressing successfully and dealers would continue to cooperate with the government.

Humayun Khan and Nauman Butt, representatives of petroleum dealers, thanked the government for taking petrol station owners into confidence and expressed support for the program.

Naveed Tanvir Abbasi, chairman of the Oil Companies Advisory Council, said the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Scheme was a positive initiative aimed at providing relief to consumers.

Malik directed all stakeholders to maintain close coordination and effective cooperation, saying uninterrupted petroleum supplies and effective implementation of the fuel relief scheme remained a top government priority.