KARACHI: In a growing public debate over fuel scarcity and security, Pakistanis finds themselves caught between OGRA’s assurances of ample reserves and the PPDA’s warning that stocks may last only two weeks.
The government, through the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), has urged citizens to remain calm, citing sufficient petroleum reserves and warning against panic buying. However, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has challenged these figures, asserting that actual reserves are far lower—sufficient for only 14 days—and calling the official data misleading.
As the discrepancy fuels confusion among the public, the tension between official messaging and industry claims underscores a deeper crisis of trust in the nation’s energy security.
The uncertainty comes against a backdrop of global turmoil and domestic strain, originated from recent US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on American bases in Arab states that disrupted crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for Pakistan’s oil imports.
Adding to the imbalance, India, Pakistan’s next-door neighbor, has been granted a 30-day US waiver to continue importing discounted Russian oil — a privilege Pakistan has not received. Despite its urgent need, Islamabad remains blocked from accessing Russian or Iranian crude, leaving it exposed to volatile global prices and supply disruptions. As fuel prices climb for the fourth time in as many weeks, the question isn’t just about reserves — it’s about geopolitical leverage, energy diplomacy, and who gets to weather the storm.
With shipments delayed and costs rising, Islamabad has struggled to secure alternative supplies. At home, the government has announced consecutive petroleum price hikes over the past few fortnights, citing international volatility and currency pressures. Together, these developments have deepened public anxiety, leaving consumers to grapple not only with higher costs at the pump but also with doubts about the stability of future fuel supplies.
Officials are also considering reviving Covid-era measures such as work-from-home policies to conserve fuel, while reviewing whether petroleum prices should be adjusted weekly instead of fortnightly. Together, these developments have deepened public anxiety, leaving consumers to grapple not only with higher costs at the pump but also with doubts about the stability of future fuel supplies.
