Government Says Pakistan Has Sufficient Petroleum Stocks
The federal government has stated that Pakistan has adequate petroleum stocks to meet domestic demand, despite a noticeable increase in fuel consumption during the first half of July.
The assurance was given during a meeting of the National Coordination and Management Council (NCMC), chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, where officials reviewed the availability of petroleum products across the country.
Petroleum Supply Remains Stable
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Customs Wing, and other relevant government institutions.
Officials informed the council that current petroleum reserves are sufficient to meet consumer demand and that there is no shortage of fuel at the national level.
Increase in Fuel Demand Reviewed
According to the meeting, petroleum sales increased significantly during the first 15 days of July, leading to concerns about supply in some areas.
Representatives of the Oil Companies Advisory Council told the meeting that the situation had been reviewed and that supply-related issues had been addressed to ensure the continued availability of fuel.
OGRA’s assessment suggested that the recent increase in demand may have been influenced by public expectations of a possible fuel price adjustment, which led to higher-than-usual purchases.
Government Directs Stronger Market Monitoring
The NCMC instructed OGRA to strengthen market monitoring and enforce regulations against unlawful fuel stockpiling. Provincial governments were also directed to conduct inspections and take appropriate measures to prevent artificial shortages.
In addition, the council instructed all relevant departments and industry stakeholders to maintain an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the country to ensure consumers continue to receive fuel without disruption.
The government reiterated that Pakistan’s petroleum inventories remain adequate and urged the public to avoid unnecessary panic buying.
