Fuel supplies remain stable as committee flags weak retail data reporting

ISLAMABAD: The government has reaffirmed that the country’s fuel supply remains stable, while stepping up monitoring efforts to prevent market manipulation following recent price adjustments.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee to Monitor Petrol Prices, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, reviewed the overall petroleum supply chain and market conditions on Monday, according to an official statement.

Officials informed the committee that fuel availability remains sufficient, with diesel stocks covering around 25 days, petrol supplies meeting current demand, and crude oil reserves standing at roughly 12 days, supported by scheduled imports and incoming shipments.

The Petroleum Division said import plans are proceeding smoothly through both commercial purchases and government-level arrangements, while local refineries continue to operate at optimal capacity.

Participants highlighted the importance of uninterrupted fuel supply for key sectors including agriculture, transport and industry, stressing its role in maintaining economic stability.

Amid recent price fluctuations, the committee directed authorities to tighten oversight across the supply chain to curb hoarding, speculative activity and any disruption in availability. It also called for action against unauthorised storage and other market irregularities within the regulatory framework.

The meeting also reviewed the gas situation, including stock levels of SNGPL and SSGC, and discussed allocation strategies between domestic users and the power sector, emphasising a balanced and data-driven approach.

A key focus remained on improving transparency through the digital monitoring dashboard introduced by Ogra, which tracks stock levels, sales and supply flows in real time. However, officials noted that data reporting from retail outlets remains inadequate, despite the presence of over 12,000 petrol pumps nationwide.

To address this gap, the minister directed stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate data sharing, while Ogra was tasked with accelerating digitisation and improving coordination with oil marketing companies.

The committee also approved the deployment of joint teams, including officials from Ogra, the Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan State Oil, to selected petrol pumps in Islamabad to strengthen compliance and improve reporting.

Officials said such measures aim to enhance oversight, ensure transparency and maintain consistency across the fuel retail network.