Oil Companies Warn of Possible Petrol Shortage, Urge Government to Act Immediately

Islamabad:** Pakistan’s oil marketing companies have warned the government of a possible petrol shortage and called for immediate intervention to prevent disruptions in fuel supplies.

According to the **Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC)**, the country currently has petrol reserves sufficient for only **15 days** of national demand, raising concerns over the stability of fuel availability.

In an **”urgent”** letter sent on **July 15** to Minister of State for Petroleum **Ali Pervaiz Malik**, the council said the country’s petrol supply situation had become exceptionally critical.

The advisory body stated that Pakistan’s current stock of **motor spirit (petrol)** stands at approximately **370,000 metric tonnes**, enough to meet demand for about two weeks.

The companies warned that delays in the **WeBOC customs clearance system** are slowing the release of imported petrol shipments. They cautioned that if **three scheduled fuel cargoes** are not cleared on time, the country’s fuel supply could face serious disruptions.

The letter also highlighted a **Rs66.7 billion payment backlog**, which the companies said has created severe financial pressure on the oil industry.

According to the industry, critically low fuel reserves, delays in customs clearance, rising domestic demand, and mounting financial constraints could collectively lead to significant interruptions in the supply of petroleum products.