Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has threatened the government departments to stop supplying POL products in case of non-payment of Rs 2.8 million pending dues by October 12, 2010. This was stated by Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman of PPDA, along with other members at a press briefing held at Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday.
He said the matter of providing POL products on credit to the government departments, especially City District Government Karachi (CDGK), Town Municipal Offices (TMO) and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB), has now aggravated as around Rs 2.8 million have been pending for months on them, which left the petroleum dealers into severe financial crisis.
Therefore, the PPDA has decided to give a one-week deadline to the aforesaid government departments to clear their pending dues else the supply of POL products would be stopped. He also alleged the law enforcement agencies to patronise the illegal marketing of Iranian smuggled and Afghan Transit POL products, saying that this illicit business is again in full swing with the connivance of Police department.
He further said the Afghan Transit POL products, which are passing through Pakistani border, are easily available at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per litre at open places. To a question, he said the association had approached all relevant authorities to curb the sale of Iranian smuggled and Afghan Transit POL products but no one paid heed on this issue.
He said that this illicit business is not only creating difficulties for dealers to meet their running expenses but also providing huge revenue losses to the national kitty and urged the authorities concerned to take stern measures against the operators of the illegal petrol pumps to facilitate the authorised dealers.
Moreover, Sami informed that the dealers are also facing serious life threats as some 25 petrol pumps have so far been robbed within two months, which forced the dealers to invest in other businesses. He said the association has, therefore, appealed to the authorities concerned for taking remedial measures to save the lives and business of the petroleum dealers.
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