KARACHI: The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has called for the reversal of a recently imposed ban on the entry of POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) tankers in the city of Lahore, which was implemented by the police to regulate traffic and ensure smoother flow within the city.

In a letter to the chief secretary of Punjab, the OCAC said that oil marketing companies (OMCs) operating in Lahore had informed them of the ban, which restricts heavy traffic from entering the city between 6am and 11pm. “Unfortunately, this restriction also affects POL tankers, which are responsible for delivering fuel to over 400 petrol pumps across Lahore. This has severely disrupted the ability to maintain a consistent fuel supply for more than 5 million consumers in the city,” the council added.

The OCAC pointed out that while a similar restriction exists in Karachi, POL tankers delivering fuel within the city’s limits are granted an exemption. This, it said, has been crucial in maintaining an uninterrupted fuel supply and has proven to be effective in Karachi.

The council has requested the chief secretary to revise the advisory and exempt POL tankers involved in fuel distribution to petrol stations in Lahore. The exemption, it argued, will help ensure the continuity of the city’s fuel supply chain and prevent any inconvenience to the public.