Severe fuel shortage in Pakistan as tankers' strike enters third day

The tanker owners have said that their demand of a 70 per cent raise in the freight rate has yet to be fulfilled by the authorities and they will continue the strike till their demands are fulfilled.

Bus some officials say that demand of a 70 per cent raise in the freight rate is just an excuse. The strike is an attempt by tanker owners to escape from following safety rules and standards.

Many gas stations are closed in the country while only few are providing the fuel with long queues of cars with empty tanks. The public transports are also in short number on the roads.

Earlier, talks between APOTOA and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) failed after which the strike was decided to continue until demands are met.

Talking to IRNA spokesperson of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Imran Ghaznavi had said that owners of takers of All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association are not ready to follow the safety regulations because they want to skip the expenses of safety measures.

He went on to say that demand of a 70 per cent raise in the freight rate is just an excuse to evade from safety standards.

All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association Chairperson Akram Durrani said that their demand of a 70 per cent raise in the freight rate has yet to be fulfilled by the authorities.

On June 25, an oil tanker skidded on the road and overturned, causing huge amounts of petrol to leak. Hundreds of people from nearby villages rushed to the scene to collect oil. Soon after, a huge fire erupted in the oil tanker killing more than 200 people.

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