KARACHI: Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, Malik Khuda Bakhsh, has accused oil marketing companies (OMCs) of deliberately restricting fuel supplies to petrol pumps in anticipation of rising global prices due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
In a statement, Bakhsh claimed that several OMCs are not fulfilling dealer orders despite having sufficient reserves. He emphasized that under Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) regulations, companies are required to maintain a minimum of 20 days’ fuel stock. “There is no actual shortage, but selective supply cuts are being used to create artificial scarcity,” he said.
Karachi’s daily petrol demand is around 2,500 metric tonnes, and Bakhsh noted that OMCs currently hold reserves well above the minimum threshold. However, certain pumps, particularly those affiliated with a specific company, have reportedly gone dry due to non-supply.
He urged the government to intervene immediately, warning that any resulting fuel crisis would affect the public and politically damage the administration. “This manipulation will hurt the people and the government will face the consequences,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, sources at Pakistan State Oil (PSO) told Geo News that the company is maintaining normal supply levels and has capped daily dispatches to average sales volumes. A vessel carrying 70 million litres of fuel is also en route from Fujairah to Karachi Port, they added.
The allegations come amid heightened regional instability, especially after Iran’s parliament approved a motion to potentially close the strategic Strait of Hormuz following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The final decision, however, rests with Iran’s top security council. The Strait sees the transit of over 21 million barrels of oil daily, affecting global energy flows, including Pakistan’s.
