Many petrol pumps and service stations in the city are selling old stocks of engine oil with new prices, using the increase in petroleum prices as a most ready excuse. A majority of petrol pumps have been selling their old engine oil stocks, bought at old prices, at the newer higher rates, attributing the difference to increased petroleum prices. A four-litre pack of CNG vehicle engine oil, earlier sold for Rs 1,350 to Rs 1,500, is now sold between Rs 1,450 to Rs 1,600. The government increased prices of petroleum products around 10 percent to 15 percent in November and December. Consequently, the prices of engine and gear oils also increased. While many fuel and service stations have huge stocks of oil, they too increased their prices and began charging new prices for old stocks. Not only are customers being charged higher prices, but the government also loses general sales tax on these stocks, commonly available in Model Town, Gulberg, Garden Town and Iqbal Town fuel stations.
Upon questioning fuel stations employees, as the printed prices on the oil packs are less than what they are charging, customers are informed that the new prices have been enforced, therefore, there is no concession. “I purchased oil for Rs 1,450, while the price printed on the pack was Rs 1,350,” said Jameel Ahmed, a customer. Ahmed said there was no point in selling old stocks with new prices. “The government has charged GST on the old prices, while the fuel station owners are charging new prices, thus not paying GST on new prices,” he said. Fuel station owners have a different view over the issue. They said whenever the price of any product was increased; the new price was enforced irrespective of whether the stock was old or new. “When fuel prices decrease, we sell old stocks at lower rates – and vice versa,” said Shafeeq Ahmed, manager of a petrol pump in Garden Town.
