The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Tuesday dismissed reports suggesting a fuel shortage in Pakistan, asserting that the situation is “fully under control.”
Earlier, several media outlets had claimed that oil companies warned of an impending nationwide shortage due to new taxation requirements introduced by the Sindh government. These regulations, they said, had delayed the clearance of fuel shipments at ports and added costs that could not be passed on to consumers.
In response, the Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan approached the federal energy ministry, urging intervention to prevent potential disruptions.
However, Ogra issued a statement assuring the public that fuel supplies were stable. “There is no situation of fuel shortage in the country. Some clearance delays were experienced earlier with imported petroleum products; however, the situation is now fully under control,” the statement read.
The authority confirmed that Pakistan State Oil’s diesel vessel and a petrol vessel belonging to Wafi Energy — the majority shareholder of Shell Pakistan Ltd — had been cleared for distribution. “Fuel supply operations across the country remain normal, and business continues as usual,” Ogra’s spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, the government recently reduced petroleum prices for the next fortnight. The ex-depot price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was lowered by Rs1.39 per litre to Rs275.41, while petrol was reduced by Rs5.66 to Rs263.02 per litre. HSD, the primary fuel for transport and agriculture, has significant inflationary effects, while petrol directly impacts the budgets of lower and middle-income households.
The government currently collects about Rs99 per litre in taxes and levies on both fuels, including Rs79.50 on diesel and Rs80.52 on petrol under petroleum and climate levies. Despite zero general sales tax, total government revenue from the petroleum levy reached Rs1.161 trillion in FY2025 and is projected to grow by 27 percent this fiscal year.
