500 Dead Pumps Mysteriously Start Selling Thousands of Litres of Petrol

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has identified around 500 petrol pumps that remained inactive for most of the year but reported selling thousands of litres of petrol during March and April, Acting Chairman Nabeel Ahmad Awan revealed while reviewing pending price differential claims (PDCs) of oil marketing companies (OMCs).

The disclosure came during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee chaired by Awan, where OGRA reviewed the delayed settlement of PDCs.

The acting chairman directed oil companies to appear before the regulator and said the long pending claims process had been delayed for too long. He added that OGRA intends to resolve the outstanding claims as quickly as possible.

The regulator also asked OMCs to submit written recommendations and has asked oil companies to provide 18 months of bank statements and electricity bills to support their claims.

A representative of the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) objected to the requirement, arguing that companies cannot reasonably be expected to produce electricity bills dating back 18 months. They remarked that most people do not even keep household utility bills for that long, making the request difficult to fulfill.

Responding to the industry’s concerns, Awan disclosed that OGRA’s review had uncovered nearly 500 petrol pumps that remained inactive throughout the year but reported selling thousands of liters of petrol during March and April.

He said that when the operators were asked to provide electricity bills, several claimed their stations were powered by solar energy and therefore had no electricity bills to submit.

The acting chairman was appointed in April after the federal government removed the regulator’s previous interim head amid mounting concerns over oil supply management, petroleum pricing, and delays in the automation of the oil supply chain.