Panic gripped Karachi on Wednesday evening as numerous fuel stations were forced to shut down following a surge in demand sparked by rumors of a fuel supply suspension.
The chaos unfolded after reports of a mysterious toxic gas leak in the Kemari area, which tragically claimed at least 15 lives and left many others affected.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) temporarily closed its storage terminal at Kemari out of precaution to protect staff amid the toxic gas incident. While this move was purely for safety reasons, it unintentionally triggered a wave of speculation and fear regarding the city’s fuel supply.
Despite the terminal closure, PSO issued a statement clarifying that the supply of petroleum products would remain uninterrupted. However, by the afternoon, media reports falsely suggested that petrol stations were running out of fuel, creating widespread alarm among motorists.
Concerned citizens rushed to stations across Karachi to refuel, causing overwhelming demand and long queues. By nightfall, nearly half of the city’s fuel stations had shut down due to running out of stock, unable to cope with the abrupt surge.
In response to the mounting concern, PSO released another official statement late Wednesday night to reassure the public. The company emphasized that it had sufficient buffer stock and was ensuring smooth supply to all affected stations. PSO confirmed that its Zulfiqarabad storage terminal was fully operational and functioning round-the-clock to maintain supply across the city.
PSO also highlighted that several ships carrying petroleum products had already docked at Karachi port and that there was no risk of fuel supply disruption. The company stressed that the situation was under control and urged citizens not to panic or believe in unverified reports.
Fuel stations are expected to resume normal operations as new stock is distributed from PSO’s alternate terminals. Authorities have advised the public to stay calm and avoid unnecessary fuel hoarding to prevent further strain on the supply chain.