KARACHI – A black market for petrol and diesel is thriving in Saudabad – a locality of Malir Town with few pumps and many customers – where a litre of petrol is being sold at 82 rupees as opposed to the Oil Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA)-defined rate of Rs 76.77 rupees per litre, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Four shops were discovered by Pakistan Today that are involved in selling fuel in black: one is situated near the RCD Ground (adjacent to Hafiz Sweets), another located at Token Stop (adjacent to Ghanchi Marriage Lawn), the third near the main Moinabad bus stop, and the last near the Bhangi Para bus stop.
“There are only two petrol pumps in our area; one is situated near the Saudabad Chowrangi and the other at Khokarapar. Both are so far off from residential areas that we have to rely on these shops,” a customer, requesting anonymity, explained to Pakistan Today. In all these petrol shops, only one person is deputed to sell petrol; the others – up to three or four – sit at some distance to monitor security in an around their businesses.
But interestingly, the businesses go unchecked despite the presence of police vans in the area. A fuel seller, who also requested anonymity, told Pakistan Today that the fuel being sold is not from Iran but is bought from the local market. “We buy petrol by the gallons, and store it in our homes or shops. Whenever we need to sell it, we transfer some of it in plastic containers and take them to our shops. These containers are placed on the pavement outside our shop, so that people can recognise that petrol is available here,” he said.
Most clients of these shops are motorcyclists, who believe that travelling far to buy petrol will not be as cost-effective. One of them complained that petrol sellers are charging five rupees more for every litre, and that these rates weren’t even mentioned at any display board. But the fuel seller argued that they are merely “facilitating” the people of their area, and many don’t seem to have any problems paying an extra five rupees. “Because we provide this facility, we can earn an honest living for our families and children. I have been able to sell around 150 to 180 litres petrol every day,” he said.
One of his customers, Danish, nodded in agreement. “Our only complaint is that these shops don’t have proper measuring instruments, but otherwise, these shops provide a good facility to us,” he said. Meanwhile, sources told Pakistan Today that these shops also sell diesel, which is obtained in collusion with contractors who run their buses and vans, and are associated with private entities.
“Only when a customer makes an exclusive demand, is the diesel brought out,” sources said. When Pakistan Today approached Saudabad Station House Officer (SHO) M Ali to ask whether he knew of the practice, he expressed his ignorance on the matter.
“I have been transferred to this station just two days ago, and I am not entirely aware of what all is going on in this. Why don’t you come to meet me at the station, identify the places, and then I can take action,” he said.
