Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Negotiation between the government and All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association (APOTA) bore fruits, as the latter agreed to end the strike following the federal government’s assurance to fulfil the association’s demands.

The petrol crisis worsened on Wednesday as most of the filling stations, including those in the federal capital, dried up due to disruption in the supply of petroleum products in different parts of the country for three days.

After the failure of the talks between the OGRA and the association of oil tankers’ owners, fuel supply remained suspended for the third consecutive day, triggering panic among motorists who were seen scrambling for petrol at fuel stations. Many stations had already wrapped up their businesses on Tuesday night after they ran out of fuel. Big crowds of motorists and motorcyclists were witnessed at filling stations, especially at the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) outlets, where fuel was supplied by PSO’s own tankers.

The APOTA and the Oil Tankers Contractors Association (OTCA) had jointly given a strike call for indefinite period on Monday, disrupting the supply of petroleum products from Karachi to the entire country in protest against “stringent regulations” relating to fitness of their vehicles and fines by the motorway police.

Despite the association’s decision to resume supply operations across the country, an acute shortage of fuel continued to take its toll on the public, as most fuel stations across the country did not have the precious commodity. Moreover, sources said it would take time for the tankers to start moving again and reach their destinations.

Published in Daily Times, July 27^th 2017.