Weekly revision of POL prices: station owners making windfall profits: survey

The weekly revision of Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) prices is providing an opportunity to private petrol pump stations to rake in windfall profits by implementing a price increase hours before it is to become effective, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed. But when the petrol prices are reduced the petrol pump stations do not implement the directive till the effectivity of the notification.
Different consumers while talking to Business Recorder confirmed that when news channels break news of hike in POL prices, pump owners start charging the enhanced price and/or close down stations till the enhanced price becomes effective. "By using such tactics, a petrol pump owner can make Rs 60,000 more for each 10,000 litres of petrol he sells," Mohammed Irfan a taxi driver said.
A senior official of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), when contacted, admitted that Ogra is responsible for checking such violations, but added that usually consumers do not file any complaints with the Authority. He said that one can also register a complaint with district administration which, as per law, is bound to take immediate action by sealing such petrol pumps. In addition Oil Marketing Company's (OMC) are also empowered to deal with such consumer complaints.
Petrol pumps and CNG stations are owned by members of ruling political parties including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Q and main opposition party in the National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). However this correspondent did visit several such petrol pumps where he was informed that a close relative of a sitting minister or senior party member is the owner on paper though not in reality.
An official of OMC while talking to Business Recorder said that the supply companies have a few patrolling vans, which are unable to take cognisance of all consumer complaints across the country and check hundreds of petrol pumps in their jurisdiction.