Fuel Supply Disrupted in Sindh Due to Protests

Karachi’s fuel supply to upcountry regions has been halted due to ongoing demonstrations and road closures in Sindh, causing significant disruption to transportation, particularly impacting petroleum product deliveries.

The disruption stems from a week-long demonstration by legal professionals and political figures protesting the development of six contested canals on the Indus River.

The protest, primarily staged at the Babarlo Bypass connecting Sukkur and Khairpur, has effectively suspended transportation between Sindh and Punjab.

Concerns Over Fuel Shortages

With no viable alternative routes available, a large number of tank lorries are stranded, raising alarms about possible fuel deficits in both northern regions and within Sindh itself.

The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has voiced serious apprehension regarding the situation, having formally communicated with the Chief Secretary of the Sindh Government, imploring urgent intervention to facilitate tank lorry movement amidst the ongoing road obstructions.

The communication stated that industry sources indicate approximately 800 tank lorries are currently immobilized en route, critically impeding the industry’s capacity to maintain consistent fuel supplies.

The OCAC emphasized that despite adequate fuel reserves, the blockades and lack of secure alternative routes are causing substantial delivery delays, heightening the risk of potential shortages in the near future.

OCAC has urgently requested the Sindh Government’s intervention to engage local authorities and issue essential directives to ensure the security and unimpeded transit of tank lorries throughout Sindh.

The letter, authored by Syed Nazir Abbas Zaidi, Secretary of OCAC, has also been directed to the Chairman of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority and the Director General Oil at the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for prompt action.

As the blockade extends into its second week, industry observers caution that the persistent disruption could severely impact fuel availability nationwide, especially absent immediate remedial measures.