KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has called for an immediate revision of the government’s newly announced Fuel Relief Scheme, warning that the existing mechanism could create operational difficulties, long queues and risks of fraud at petrol stations.
Speaking to the media on Monday, PPDA Chairperson Malik Khuda Baksh said petrol dealers across the country were increasingly concerned about the practical implementation of the scheme.
He said dealers would face difficulties verifying the required information for every customer, particularly during peak hours. At many petrol stations, he noted, 35 to 50 motorcycles can be lined up in a single queue, making it impractical to check invoices and other details individually.
Baksh warned that the verification process could result in longer queues and delays, causing inconvenience for consumers as well as financial losses for dealers. He also raised concerns about potential fraud involving fake identities and said dealers could be left to bear the resulting losses.
“If 10 to 15 customers leave during rush hours because of delays, how will dealers bear the resulting losses?” he questioned.
The PPDA chairman urged Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to hold an immediate meeting with representatives of petrol dealers to resolve their concerns and revise the mechanism.
The association has also called an emergency meeting of petrol dealers to discuss the scheme in detail. The meeting will review the implementation mechanism and decide the association’s future course of action, while a press conference is scheduled for Wednesday.
PPDA officials Tariq Hassan and Anwar Kamal said the fuel relief mechanism should be finalised in consultation with petrol dealers.
They said the government could provide whatever relief it deemed appropriate to consumers, but petrol dealers should not be placed directly at the centre of the process. Instead, they suggested that the relief should be administered through the government and oil marketing companies (OMCs).
They warned that incomplete information about the scheme could lead to public complaints, operational problems and increased fraud risks. Hassan stressed that petrol dealers must be taken into confidence before the scheme is implemented.
70% of Transport Operations Reportedly Halted
Meanwhile, rising petroleum prices have severely affected the transport sector, with around 70% of transport operations reportedly at a standstill, according to PPDA Vice Chairperson Malik Sher Khan.
Addressing a ceremony organised by Shaheen Group to honour high-performing employees and pilgrims departing for Umrah, Khan, who is also Chief Executive of Shaheen Group of Companies, said oil and goods transporters played a vital role in the national economy and supported the livelihoods of thousands of families.
He warned that if the situation continued for another 15 days, a further 25% to 30% of transport operations could be forced to shut down.
According to Khan, rising fuel prices are increasing transportation costs and placing additional pressure on the supply chain for essential commodities. Transporters are struggling to balance per-kilometre fares with rising operating expenses while already facing a heavy tax burden.
He noted that the Jamaat-i-Islami had been staging a sit-in against fuel price increases for several days, but criticised the government for failing to take effective action so far.
Khan also criticised the government’s Fuel Relief Scheme, saying it had been introduced without adequate consultation with transporters and other relevant stakeholders.
He warned that the scheme, in its current form, could further complicate the situation rather than resolve the difficulties facing the transport sector.
He urged the government to restore confidence among traders and transporters and take immediate, practical measures to address the impact of rising fuel prices.
