PPDA protests hoarding of fuel

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has protested fuel hoarding by all oil marketing companies operating in Pakistan including Pakistan State Oil, Shell Pakistan Limited, Total Parco Pakistan Ltd and Attock Petroleum Limited.

“Whenever there is an expected price rise in fuel prices, these companies hoard fuel, causing artificial shortages and undue hardships to petroleum dealers and the general public,” said Hassan Shah, spokesperson for the PPDA. He added: “Despite clear orders and 100% payments made, these companies are not releasing fuel stock, citing excuses like ‘capping’ or offering only average fuel stoking instability in the petroleum product market. This is a clear violation of rules and regulations, and we demand immediate intervention from relevant authorities like the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and the Competition Commission of Pakistan.” He requested the Ogra chairman to intervene in the matter and direct oil marketing companies to release fuel stock to petroleum dealers.

Petroleum dealers are also meeting the Senate chairman today (Friday) to apprise him of the issue so that he direct the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ogra to hold inquiries into the matter at the highest level. As soon as the news of a likely price hike is aired on TV channels, customers swarm to filling stations to buy fuel. Many petrol pumps cannot satisfy the needs of the public owing to low inventories, which results in complications, he informed. OGRA teams should check if the fuel order has been placed and payment has been made before fining petrol pumps for not supplying fuel to consumers. If the filling stations did not get oil despite paying in advance, OMCs should be penalized for suspending fuel supply, and the petroleum dealers should be spared, he demanded.

He said the OGRA should mobilize its enforcement team to ensure that all the OMCs keep their retail outlets wet and well-supplied with petroleum products. He demanded that any attempt at hoarding must be discouraged by authorities to avoid panic, and actions might be taken against OMCs that maintain stocks lower than the mandatory requirement.

“We will not tolerate this exploitation of petroleum dealers and the public. We demand a fair system and will take all necessary steps to materialize our justified demands,” he said.