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Oil tankers. Photo: file
SHEIKHUPURA:
Tanker drivers said they were facing long waits at depots due to a fuel shortage, with the government playing down fears of further price rises.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping and damaged oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, pushing up global oil prices as countries scramble to deal with supply concerns.
Dozens of tankers, which supply fuel across Pakistan, were seen Tuesday parked on the side of the road at depots near Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
“There has been no petrol at the depot for four days,” said fuel truck driver Abdul Shakoor. “Iran has closed the border on its side. The depot is empty,” he told AFP.
Last week, the Islamabad government raised prices by around 20 percent, triggering long queues and panic buying at gas stations across the country.
Mazhar Mahmood, assistant to a fuel truck driver, said, “The drivers also went to the depot today, but the depot staff said there was no fuel available.” He said he was told the fuel would be available in the next five to six days.
“The situation in the country is not good. There is no gasoline in the country, that’s why vehicles are parked here.”
