Staff Reporter :
Long queues of vehicles are being witnessed outside petrol pumps in various parts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Since the reduction in prices of petroleum products, people have been facing a shortage of fuel at petrol pumps in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.
“I have been waiting for last more than one hour to get fuel”, Muhammad Afzal, a rickshaw driver told the daily Quetta Voice. Petrol pumps in the city are either closed or crowded with people and vehicles in the city.
The daily Quetta Voice tried to speak to district administration but no immediate word from the officials. The federal government had reduced per litre of petrol to Rs.74.52. Since then, masses have been facing a shortage of fuel in various parts of Balochistan.
“We cannot even get Iranian smuggled fuel in the city”, Noor Muhammad, a vehicle owner at Quetta’s Airport road lamented.
In some parts of Balochistan, petrol pump owners have been over-charging in the selling of fuel. People are forced to purchase petrol per litre at Rs. 140 right under the nose of the administration.
In most parts of the province, people are dependent on Iranian smuggled petroleum products. However, smuggling of Iranian petrol and diesel have been severely affected in the aftermath of the deadly coronavirus.
Artificial petrol shortage after reduction in prices in Balochistan