PM Shehbaz Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Petrol Hoarding

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a stern directive to provincial governments to initiate immediate legal action against “nefarious” elements involved in the hoarding of petroleum products. Chairing a high-level emergency meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister emphasized that artificial shortages will not be tolerated as the country navigates the “evolving regional situation” caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Zero Tolerance for Artificial Shortages

The Prime Minister’s mandate includes a series of aggressive enforcement measures to protect consumers from profiteering:

• License Cancellation: Any petrol pump found creating artificial shortages or hoarding fuel will be sealed immediately. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has been directed to permanently cancel the licenses of such violators and initiate criminal proceedings.

• Provincial Action Plans: The Minister for Petroleum has been tasked with visiting all four provinces to coordinate with local administrations. Together, they will develop a unified strategy for energy conservation and ensure the smooth, uninterrupted supply of fuel to the general public.

• Daily Monitoring: While the government confirmed that “adequate stocks” are currently available to meet national requirements, the Prime Minister stressed that vigilant oversight is required to prevent market manipulation.

The “Petroleum Dashboard” and Digital Oversight

In a move toward modernizing supply chain transparency, the Prime Minister ordered the creation of a real-time digital dashboard.

• Data Integration: This system will provide a live feed of petroleum product movements across the country.

• Inter-Provincial Synergy: Real-time data will be shared with provincial authorities to supervise transportation and detect any unauthorized diversions or “stockpiling” at the source.

Strategic Energy Conservation

The meeting comes as the federal government finalizes a multi-phase national action plan to manage demand during the Strait of Hormuz closure. Measures currently under implementation include weekly petroleum price revisions (starting March 8), mandatory work-from-home protocols for non-essential sectors, and a shift to distance learning for educational institutions to reduce daily fuel consumption.

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A United Front

The high-powered meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and the Chief Secretaries of all provinces. The leadership reiterated that while the global energy environment remains fluid, Pakistan’s internal distribution remains a top national priority.