Petroleum dealers threaten pump shutdown over law amendments

KARACHI: Petroleum dealers on Saturday announced plans to shut down petrol pumps across the country if amendments are made to the Petroleum Act of 1934.

They expressed concern that assistant and deputy commissioners have been granted excessive powers, allowing them to seal any pump.

The dealers warned that such measures could lead to increased corruption. They also claimed that currently, 40 per cent of the diesel sold in the country is smuggled Iranian diesel.

The petroleum dealers cautioned that if negotiations with the government fail, they will take strict actions, including closing petrol pumps.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Abdul Sami Khan, chairperson of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), said they would not accept any amendments to the Petroleum Act that grant additional powers to deputy and assistant commissioners. He added that a delegation of dealers is scheduled to hold final negotiations with the petroleum minister on Monday (May 26).

On the occasion, PPDA Vice Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh reiterated that 40 per cent of diesel sold in the country is smuggled from Iran.

PPDA Punjab member Raja Waseem said that such excessive powers should not be entrusted to the bureaucracy.

He acknowledged their support for efforts to curb smuggling but warned that under the proposed changes, violations could result in fines of at least Rs10 million and the seizure of the pump’s land.