Rawalpindi
Under the nose of city district government, kerosene oil sellers are taking full advantage of gas crisis earning more than 100 per cent profit on 1-liter commodity by selling one-litre oil at Rs105 against government’s fixed rate of Rs43.25.
On February 1, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had fixed rates of kerosene oil at Rs43.25 per litre, petrol at Rs71.25, High Speed Diesel (HSD) at Rs75.79, High Octane (HO) at Rs75.66 and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) at Rs39.94 per litre.
Kerosene Oil Retailers Association (KORA) Rawalpindi senior member Niaz Ahmed Khan has admitted that retailers are selling 1-litre kerosene oil at Rs100 to Rs105 against government fixed rates. The retailers are selling kerosene oil at higher prices because we are purchasing commodity in skyrocketing rates. The dealers provide us 1-litre kerosene oil at Rs85 to Rs90, therefore, we are selling commodity at higher prices, he claimed.
‘The News’ learnt that there were more than 2,000 privately running oil agencies here in Rawalpindi city and cantonment board localities. The oil agencies are running even in residential localities where public facing low to zero gas pressure for months. The kerosene oil is a best source of fire but it was used in some other works as well. The privately running oil agencies are looting public here at Dhoke Ratta, Adiala Road, Defence Road, Talhi Mohri, Bakramandi, Dhoke Syedan, Lalkurti, Dhoke Banaras, Chungi No22, Adra, Tench Bhatta,, Mughalabad, Mehrabad, Tehmasabad, Pirwadhai, Ganjmandi, Dhoke Mangtal, Kohati Bazaar, Kashmiri Bazaar, Asghar Mall, Eidgha Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Morgha, Tipu Road, Muhallah Naik Alam, Railway Road, Range Road, Chur, Allahabad, Misriyal Road, Jhanda Chichi, Garibabad, Mohanpura, Chamanzar and several other localities where sellers selling kerosene oil at Rs100 to Rs105 per litre.
Talking to ‘The News’ kerosene oil users strongly condemned retailers and concerned authorities as they blamed that they are working side by side. The retailers are openly looting public but city district government, Rawalpindi, taking a deep slumber in this matter, they denounced.
Rafaqat Bashir, a resident of Adiala Road, said that there was no government writ as sellers selling 1-litre oil at Rs100-105 against Rs43. After government announcement, I was hoping to buy kerosene oil at lower prices but situation is the same, he claimed.
Rashid Mehmood, a resident of Pirwadhai, said that there was no control of city district government here in Rawalpindi in every matter. The city district government, Rawalpindi, has left us in the lurch in every matter because public could not fight with looters, he denounced.
Muhammad Anwar from Defence Road said that kerosene oil is another source of fuel use to cook foods but we have no power to purchase this commodity as looters selling it on ‘black’. Additional District Collector General (ADGC) Imran Qureshi said that we are fully trying to provide maximum relief of public in every matter. “I have taken up this matter and public will feel difference within 24 hours,” he assured. He also said that our magistrates continuously visiting markets to control such kind of situation.