Pakistan blocks Nato fuel supplies

Pakistan has stopped all supplies of petrol and high-speed diesel to the US Defence Energy Supply Company, which is catering the energy requirements of Nato forces in Afghanistan, media report said on Saturday. Daily ‘The News’ reported the ban has been implemented with immediate effect. Simple calculations reveal that Nato forces were being provided petrol and high-speed diesel rs22-25 per litre cheaper than that being charged from local consumers. According to the report Pakistan had been extending the supply of the petroleum products at subsidised rates to Nato forces since 2002-03 and in the process had sustained a colossal loss of rs35 billion. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain confirmed that six oil-marketing companies including Pakistan State Oil, Attock Petroleum Company, Total-Parco, Shell and Byco had been directed to stop the supply of petrol and high-speed diesel. “However, jet fuel will continue to be provided to the US,” the minister said, adding that this was being done because there was no levy in Pakistan on jet fuel. According to another official at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Pakistan had been exporting 150,000 tons of high-speed diesel, 100,000 tons of petrol and 850,000 tons of jet fuel per year.