All parties meeting discussed Shortage of POL (diesel, petrol, kerosene oil) can erect crises in case of blockage of Lawari Pass.
CHITRAL: Political leaders of all parties discussed POL crises in an emergency meeting at Municipal Public Library under the chair of Sultan Shah District Naib Nazim Chitral while Sartaj Ahamd Khan Tehsil Nazim was presiding over the meeting. The participants discussed various aspects for solving petroleum shortage problems, as there is stock for only one or one and half month. Incase of blocking the only land route via Lawari pass which is usually blocking in winter season due to heavy snowfall there would be no option for carrying Diesel, Petrol and Kerosene oil to Chitral. Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan disclosed that there is acute shortage of diesel in Chitral and we require 4 million liters of diesel (high speed diesel HSD) 0.1 million liters of petrol (PMG Petrol Motor Gases) and 0.250 million liters of SKO (superior kerosene oil). Tahir Mehmood In-charge of Depot operation Pakistan State Oil Co Ltd said that we have already informed the district government of Chitral regarding shortage of oil. He said that in present position the PSO would face billion of loss. The participants also complained that diesel is being smuggling to Afghanistan as situated on the border of Chitral.
Leaders of different political parties like PPP, PML-N, ANP etc suggested to contact their member of parliament to raise this issue on the floor of assembly for quick action and supply of oil to Chitral before closing of Lawari top. ACO Chitral Miftahuddin said that we have informed provincial government about this situation and it is under process. PSO representative informed the participants that PSO have billion of rupees pending against several department as a result they can not dumping more oil in present position until the federal government play role for releasing their fund (liabilities). The participants also expressed their concern over that in case of non-availability of oil it can term in famine because wheat and other food items are transportation only through vehicles. The participants also expressed their fear that under construction projects can badly affected by shortage of oil because all heavy machinery running only by oil like construction of roads, Lawari rail tunnel, bridges etc. They also suggested that NHA, Wapda and other department should to storage (stock) oil their self because they have huge consumption. It was also discussed that transportation of 5 food items have been banned via Kunar Afghanistan road.
The participants also condemned PSO for not storage as usual in past as a result this crises created. They unanimously decided to contact MNA and MPAs from Chitral for taking quick action on this issue for immediately supply of oil to Chitral as well as a delegation should to meet high ups of PSO and provincial and Federal government. Sultan Shah district Naib Nazim who also chairing the meeting concluded the meeting by demanding declaring emergency in Chitral in this regard as we have very short time for carrying oil to Chitral he added. Nazimeen Union Councils, owners of private petrol pumps, district government and other notable of Chitral, also attended the meeting. It is worth to mention here that PSO were stocking required quota of oil in winter season before closing of Lwari top at least for 5 to 6 months but this year they could not storage required quantity of oil as a result acute oil crises can be erected in near future after closing of Lwari Pass by heavy snowfall.
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