Although, the government has slashed down prices of petroleum products to provide relief to masses but oil marketing companies, both public and private, are collecting their illegal chunk, it is learnt.
A brief survey of some city’s petrol pumps revealed that none of the private oil marketing companies or only state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO) was selling the POL products on rates fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The consumers were seen confused due to difference in POL prices. At some pumps, consumers were seen arguing with the stations high-ups about difference in prices.
On June 15, the government revised prices of POL products and reduced the prices after decline in petroleum rates in the international market. As per notification of OGRA, prices of petrol were revised and slashed down from Rs 99.97 per litre to Rs 89.51 per litre. HOBC price was reduced from Rs 113.32 per litre to Rs 125.07 per litre. The price of high speed diesel was reduced from Rs 105.77 per litre to Rs 99.69 per litre, kerosene oil Rs 94.05 per litre to Rs 88.79 pre litre and price of light diesel revised from Rs 91.59 per litre and fixed at Rs 86.57 per litre.
However, the POL products are not available at city’s fuel pumping stations at above mentioned OGRA rates. At state-run PSO, petrol was available at Rs 89.74 per litre and diesel was sold at Rs 99.92 per litre. At Shell pumps, the petrol was available at Rs 89.81 per litre and diesel was offered at Rs 99.99 per litre. Caltex sold petrol at Rs 89.88 per litre and diesel at Rs 100 per litre. At Hascol, petrol was available at Rs 89.74 per litre and diesel was sold at Rs 99.92 per litre.
Oil marketing companies were collecting illegal chunk on POL products. PSO is collecting Rs 0.23 paisa per litre on petrol and diesel. Shell charged Rs 0.30 paisa per litre extra on petrol and diesel. Caltex collected Rs 0.37 paisa per litre on petrol and Rs 0.31 paisa per liter. Hascol charged Rs 0.23 per litre extra on petrol and diesel. The consumers of POL products were seen confused due to difference in the revised government and oil marketing companies’ prices at petrol pumps.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that the oil marketing companies charged few paisa over per litre of petrol and diesel. Giving justification behind extra-charging, he said oil marketing companies pay taxes and some amount to dealers of OMCs due to which they charge some paisa to meet their expenses. He said that rates also changed from city to city and at some cities, the extra charges are low as compare to other cities. He claimed that the oil marketing has approved this extra-charging from OGRA. The big oil marketing companies collect low charges like PSO while small oil marketing companies charge little high than big companies, he added.
