Fuel supply stable, retail data lags

The Cabinet Committee to Monitor Petrol Prices met on Monday under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Finance and RevenueMuhammad Aurangzeb to review the petroleum supply situation and market conditions following the recent price adjustment, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance. The meeting focused on ensuring supply continuity, maintaining market discipline and strengthening monitoring mechanisms across the supply chain. The committee reviewed petroleum stock positions, import plans and refinery operations. Members were told that the overall supply position remains stable, with diesel stocks providing about 25 days of cover, petrol availability sufficient to meet current demand, and crude oil stocks at about 12 days of cover, supported by incoming cargoes and scheduled imports. The Petroleum Division said import arrangements for the coming weeks are on track through commercial procurement and government-to-government engagements, while refineries continue to operate at optimal levels. The committee noted the critical importance of reliable energy supply in supporting key sectors such as agriculture, fertiliser production, transportation and industry, underscoring its role in sustaining economic activity and maintaining price stability. In light of recent price movements, the committee emphasised continued vigilance across the supply chain to prevent hoarding, speculative behaviour and any disruption in product availability. The committee also underscored the need to discourage unauthorised storage and address market irregularities within the regulatory framework. The committee also reviewed the gas supply situation, including stock positions of SNGPL and SSGC, and discussed options for managing gas availability for domestic consumers and its allocation between domestic and power sectors. Members emphasised a balanced, data-driven approach to ensure efficient utilisation of resources. The committee placed particular emphasis on strengthening monitoring through the digital dashboard launched by Ogra, designed to provide real-time visibility of stock levels, sales and supply conditions from depots to retail outlets. The dashboard is expected to serve as a central tool for tracking key indicators, enabling timely identification of supply gaps and informed decision-making. While acknowledging progress, the committee noted that data reporting from retail outlets remains below expectations, particularly given the scale of more than 12,000 petrol pumps nationwide, and stressed the need to fully operationalise the system. The finance minister emphasised the importance of timely data integration and directed all stakeholders to ensure prompt and accurate sharing of information. Ogra was directed to ensure compliance with data reporting requirements, accelerate digitisation efforts across the supply chain, and maintain close coordination with oil marketing companies (OMCs) and other stakeholders. To reinforce implementation, it was decided that joint teams comprising representatives of the Petroleum Division, Ogra, FIA and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) would be deployed to selected PSO petrol pumps in Islamabad to support timely data entry, improve stock transparency and ensure operational compliance. The committee underscored the importance of institutionalising such mechanisms to strengthen oversight, enhance accountability and promote consistency in reporting practices across the retail network. Chairing the meeting, the finance minister reiterated that maintaining market stability requires proactive coordination, effective monitoring and consistent enforcement. He emphasised that ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability, improving transparency and protecting consumers remain key priorities.