ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Thursday) has clearly stated that he will not tolerate the petroleum shortage in the country at any cost.
The Ministry of Petroleum’s report on the recent fuel shortage declared the crisis artificial and also determined the elements behind the shortage.
According to the report, nine oil marketing companies deliberately created the crisis whereas DG Oil Dr. Shafi-ur-Rehman Afridi and Petroleum Division officers failed to perform their duties.
Going through the report, PM Imran Khan issued directives for the authorities to take measures to avert any artificial petroleum shortage in the future.
He also directed the concerned authorities to arrest the persons involved in creating the shortage and cancel the licenses of the responsible companies as well.
PM Imran said, “The stored petrol should be forcibly supplied to the market and all oil marketing companies should be bound to ensure supplies for 21 days.”
Earlier, PM Imran had ordered punitive action against those responsible for the artificial shortage of fuel across the country. He issued the orders while presiding over an emergency meeting on the petrol crisis in Islamabad.
Earlier on June 18, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan, while hearing a case related to petroleum shortage, had taken the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman to task saying he should step down from his post if he was unable to discharge his duties.