Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed provincial administrations to take strict legal action against those involved in hoarding petroleum products.
He issued these instructions while chairing a high-level meeting on petroleum supplies in Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz stated that any petrol pump found creating artificial shortages through hoarding should be shut down immediately.
He further directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to cancel the licenses of such outlets and initiate legal proceedings against them.
The premier also directed the minister for petroleum to visit the provinces and, in consultation with provincial authorities, formulate a comprehensive strategy to conserve petroleum products while ensuring their uninterrupted supply to the public.
He further ordered the creation of a monitoring dashboard to track the movement of petroleum products across the country.
The system will provide provinces with real-time data and enable authorities to closely supervise the transportation and distribution of fuel.
During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing on the country’s petroleum reserves in the context of the evolving regional situation.
The prime minister was informed that sufficient petroleum stocks are currently available to meet national demand.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers as well as the chief secretaries of all four provinces, along with representatives from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (SBP). The governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB) and special assistants to the prime minister were also present.
According to sources, a high-powered committee has prepared recommendations regarding the mechanism for determining petroleum product prices on a weekly basis, which received the prime minister’s approval. Following endorsement by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the proposals will be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval.
Meanwhile, the prime minister directed authorities to develop contingency plans for work-from-home arrangements in educational institutions and offices.
The finance minister has been tasked with consulting the provinces and presenting a detailed proposal on the matter.