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Tankers. Photo: archive
SHEIKHUPURA:
Tanker drivers said they faced long waits at depots due to fuel shortages, as the government played down fears of another price rise.
The US-Israel war with Iran has disrupted shipping and damaged oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, driving up global oil prices as countries struggle to cope with supply concerns.
Dozens of tankers, which supply fuel to all of Pakistan, were seen parked on the side of the road on Tuesday at depots near Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
“There is no gasoline in the tank for four days,” said a tanker driver, Abdul Shakoor. “Iran has closed the border for its part. The warehouse is empty,” he told AFP.
Last week, the Islamabad government increased prices by about 20 percent, leading to long lines and panic buying at gas stations across the country.
Mazhar Mahmood, assistant driver of a tanker, 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 will 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 the vehicles are parked here.”
