Petrol crisis looms in Pakistan: Govt weighs two options

ISLAMABAD: Due to the petrol and diesel crisis in Pakistan due to the Iran war and regional tensions, the government is left with two options.
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According to details, the increasing tension and war situation between Iran and the US have sounded the alarm of a fuel crisis in Pakistan.

Due to the supply disruption in the global market and especially the fear of affecting the important sea route like the ‘Strait of Hormuz’, Pakistan may have to face very difficult decisions in the coming days.

Economic and energy experts say that the government has two options to deal with this serious situation.

Big increase in the prices of petroleum product

The first option is to increase prices in proportion to the global market so that fuel consumption can be reduced and the rising import bill can be controlled.

Fuel rationing system

The second option is to introduce a fuel rationing system through QR codes, under which vehicles are provided with a limited amount of petrol weekly.

Economist Dr. Abid Sulehri says that if we have to keep schools and offices functioning, then the option of ‘rationing’ may be inevitable.

Energy expert Khalid Waleed has suggested that the government should immediately focus on alternative sources like solar energy.

Pakistan’s neighbors and other countries in the region have already taken such steps, with Sri Lanka successfully implementing a fuel rationing system through QR codes, while Myanmar has assigned shifts based on the (digits) of vehicle number plates.

Bangladesh and Nepal have adopted methods such as setting daily sales limits and rationing LPG cylinders.