Islamabad (HRNW) Several fuel pumps are operating across the country without licences or due authorization or selling petroleum products other than what they were allowed.
These fuel stations are also involved in the hoarding of petroleum products.
This was disclosed in the audit reports for accounts of the Petroleum Division and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) for the fiscal year 2021-22.
The report, a copy of which is available with media showed that illegal and unauthorized fuel pumps are involved in selling unrefined fuel, which has been smuggled from places such as Iran.
The report said that OGRA is bound to ensure that oil marketing companies (OMCs) are not involved in giving their products to fuel pumps operated by other OMCs.
For this purpose, a proper tracking system was set up to point out where a tanker decanted and that a heavy fine would have to be paid in case of violating the decanting regulations.
The auditor general in the report raised questions over the mechanism that ensures standards of fuel transporting/supplying tankers and the performance of Ogra’s monitoring and enforcement department.
During the audit of OGRA for the FY 2020-21, it was discovered that the lease of some 206 petroleum outlets/fuel pumps of certain OMCs had expired.
However, these facilities continued to sell petroleum products.