The government on Saturday decided to allow import of petrol and diesel after one month.

According to the officials, the government has taken this decision keeping in view an increase in consumption of petrol and diesel in the country.

According to the notification issued here on Saturday, refineries can import crude oil, while marketing companies can import diesel and petrol.

Earlier on March 26, the government had advised oil marketing companies and refineries to cancel their planned imports as domestic oil inventory was piling up on muted demand and urged the provincial administrations to ease lockdown restrictions on petroleum transportation.

The Ministry of Energy said consumption of motor gasoline had dropped significantly due to enforcement of lockdowns by the provincial administrations to control spread of coronavirus.

“As OMCs (oil marketing companies) have sufficient inventory of the product, all OMCs are requested to cancel their planned imports (April, 2020 onwards) and increase their offtake from refineries so that the operations of refineries are maintained at an adequate level,” the ministry said in a letter to Oil Companies Advisory Council.

“Further, all OMCs are advised to finalise/update their commercial agreements with the local refineries for required product sourcing.”