LAHORE: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Wednesday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that only 45 percent of oil tankers fulfill the standards.
In a reply filed before LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah during hearing of a petition regarding Ahmadpur Sharqia tragedy, the authority submitted that oil tankers association did want to use quality tankers.
The reply said the exploded oil tanker was not checked at the terminal by Shell company and a fake fitness certificate of the oil tanker was used.
The tragedy could have been averted if the tanker had been examined before departure, it added.
The report further submitted that Shell company had paid the fine besides compensation to the heirs of the victims. However, the petitioner's counsel Safdar Shaheen Pirzada pointed out that after the Ahmadpur Sharqia Tragedy, five more oil tankers overturned in different incidents.
To which, the court asked the Motorway Police DIG Mirza Farhan to apprise about steps taken to deal with such incidents.
The DIG submitting a reply told the court that recommendations had been forwarded to concerned institutions. He said the iron sheet of the tanker was of low quality.
Shell company's counsel submitted that the OGRA only imposed fine on its client whereas no action had been taken against the other companies.
At this, the court adjourning the further hearing sought an explanation form the OGRA.
The petitioner had sought accountability of responsible for the Ahmadpur Sharqia tragedy and record of the burn units at public hospitals in the province.
The petitioner submitted that the Ahmadpur tragedy was a result of local administration's negligence. He said if the highways and local police had taken timely action, the lives of innocents people could have been saved.
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