Militancy-hit petrol pumps: government urged to announce compensation package for NWA

All North Waziristan Petroleum Association has demanded of the federal government to announce special compensation package for owners, whose petrol pumps had destroyed during the military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' in the tribal agency. Addressing at press conference at Peshawar Press Club, the Association president Malik Raqeeb Gul said that a total of 70 petrol pumps in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), which had damaged in the security forces operation in the tribal region.
Of the total fuel refilling stations, he added that around 66 percent were partially damaged, while rest of 44 were completely destroyed in the tribal agency. He said the owners had lost millions of rupees due damaged of heavy expensive machines and refilling stations. He informed that a tank with of capacity of 25,000 litre petrol was fitted, while two-tanks with capacity of 50,000 litre diesel fixed in a refilling station. But, he said the entire fuel tanks worth of millions of rupees was left empty on their return to the tribal agency.
Similarly, he said from three to four units were also installed in these petrol and diesel pumps. He added the each unit cost is about over Rs 1 million in market. Currently, he said around 30-32 fuel refilling stations, including new one, are operational in the whole North Waziristan Agency. He said the tribal agency is being faced with severe financial crisis after the successful conduct of a military operation in the region.
Flanked by the National Youth Organisation Central Chairman, Mohsin Dawar Advocate, the association vice president, Malik Rafiuddin, Finance Secretary, Malik Sanaullah, and Malik Asad Khan and others, he maintained that the businesses had completely damaged, while unemployment was also increased since the winding up the security forces action in the tribal agency.