Soon after removing restrictions on import of goods from India, Pakistan has sought immediate supplies of petrol from the country to meet widening deficit. On the sidelines of the 7th Asia Gas Partnership Summit in New Delhi, Pakistan Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry said that he discussed importing petrol from India during talks with Petroleum Secretary G C Chaturvedi. Pakistan, which has shortage of fuel, is looking at starting petrol imports from India using tankers as early as next month but issues of quality and specification need to be sorted out before that.
Officials of the two countries will meet next month to finalize modalities. The biggest hurdle is the fuel specification- while Pakistan sells Euro-II grade fuel, Indian refineries produce petrol and diesel meeting Euro-III and IV standards.