LONDON — The British government put the army on standby to distribute fuel from Tuesday after an acute shortage of truckers triggered panic buying, which left fuel pumps dry across the land.
The situation raised fears that hospitals would be left without doctors and nurses soon.
Queues of drivers snaked back from those petrol stations that were still serving in major cities, though dozens of forecourts were closed with signs saying that their petrol and diesel had run dry.
A post-Brexit shortage of lorry drivers, exacerbated by a debilitating halt to truck-driving-licence testing during COVID-19 lockdowns, has sown chaos through British supply chains, raising the spectre of shortages and price rises in the run up to Christmas.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said a limited number of military tanker drivers had been put on a state of readiness to be deployed to deliver fuel if necessary.
“While the fuel industry expects demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, it’s right that we take this sensible, precautionary step,” Kwarteng said in a statement late on Monday.
“If required, the deployment of military personnel will provide the supply chain with additional capacity as a temporary measure to help ease pressures caused by spikes in localized demand for fuel.”
Pakistani rupee remained stable against the US dollar, and other currencies in the open market on Friday.
On Friday, the US dollar remained stable and was being quoted at 283.2 for buying and 286.15 for selling.
Euro comes down to 308 for buying and 311 for selling. British Pound rate dropped to 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.4 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 283.2 | 286.15 |
Euro | EUR | 308 | 311 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 358.5 | 362 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.4 | 78.1 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76 | 76.8 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.2 | 189 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 757.23 | 765.23 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 209 | 211 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.89 | 40.29 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.19 | 41.59 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.41 | 36.71 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.42 | 3.53 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.39 | 1.45 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 921.71 | 930.71 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 61.02 | 61.62 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 174.54 | 176.54 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.05 | 26.35 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 739.62 | 747.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 78.22 | 78.92 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 211 | 213 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.12 | 27.42 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 324.94 | 327.44 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.06 | 8.21 |
Gold price in Pakistan increased as the yellow metal witnessed an upward trend in the international market.
On Friday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,400 and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,390.
Single tola of 22 Karat Gold costs Rs199,282, 21 karat rate for per tola is Rs190,225 and 18k gold rate is Rs163,050 each tola.
In the global market, gold prices hover at around $2026, gaining $8.30 on Friday.
Today Gold Price in Pakistan (8 December 2023)
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Karachi | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Islamabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Peshawar | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Quetta | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Sialkot | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Attock | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Gujranwala | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Jehlum | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Multan | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Gujrat | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Nawabshah | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Chakwal | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Hyderabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Nowshehra | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Sargodha | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Faisalabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Mirpur | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
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