KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has demanded that Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab immediately order the opening of petrol pumps sealed by the Enforcement and Implementation Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), terming the action illegal.
The association also called for its leadership to be taken into confidence before such measures are taken against petrol dealers.
Speaking at a press conference at the PPDA office on Sunday, Chairman Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Malik Khuda Bakhsh, accompanied by Vice Chairman Tariq Hasan and Anwar Kamal, said that the Enforcement and Implementation Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had issued a seven-day notice to petrol pumps but sealed several stations just one day later.
He said the notice had directed the petrol pumps to rectify fire-fighting extinguishers within seven days and take the necessary safety measures in accordance with the directions issued by KMC officials. However, despite the seven-day compliance period, several petrol pumps were sealed just one day later, without allowing dealers the stipulated time to comply with the directions and rectify the identified deficiencies.
The PPDA chairman demanded that an immediate inquiry be ordered into the circumstances surrounding the sealing of the stations before expiry of the seven-day compliance period. He also called for the concerned department to provide the reasons, facts and justification for sealing the stations at such an early stage.
He said the PPDA appreciated the Karachi mayor’s measures concerning public safety, fire safety and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. However, he stressed that dealers must be given a fair and reasonable opportunity to fulfill the requirements communicated through a formal notice.
Other PPDA leaders said the concerned authorities should be directed to immediately de-seal the stations in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations and provide the dealers with reasonable time to rectify deficiencies relating to fire-fighting extinguishers and address the shortcomings identified in the notices issued by KMC officials.
They said the continued closure of the petrol stations was causing significant financial losses to dealers, resulting in the loss of valuable customers, including regular and credit customers, while adversely affecting the dealers’ business reputation, goodwill and standing.
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