Quetta, Balochistan — A severe shortage of petrol and diesel for police patrol vehicles in Quetta has sharply reduced routine law enforcement and raised public anxiety about rising crime and slower emergency responses, The Express Tribune reports. The supply crunch, tied to disruptions after the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, comes as the United States and Iran conducted an initial round of talks in Islamabad that ended without a deal.
Police stations across the provincial capital say they are receiving only token fuel allocations. Sources report each station is being given roughly 70 litres for an entire month — an amount that would keep a single patrol vehicle running for only a few days — and some stations get as little as two litres per day under the current distribution system. As a result, many patrol units are largely idle, visible street patrols have fallen sharply, and large areas are left without regular policing.
Officials and residents warn that the resulting gaps in surveillance are being exploited by criminals. Citizens have reported an uptick in street crime and violence, and there are mounting fears that delayed response times to emergencies could endanger lives and property.
At the same time, a steep rise in petroleum prices across Pakistan is pushing up the cost of essentials, including medicines, further straining vulnerable households and widening economic pressures nationwide.
This report is sourced from a syndicated feed (ANI) and published as received; The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
