Fuel safety in Pakistan is often discussed at the retail pump, yet the most serious risks arise much earlier in the supply chain – during transport, storage and handling. Recurrent incidents involving oil tankers and unsafe storage practices point to a deeper challenge: safety is still treated as episodic compliance rather than a system-wide responsibility.
This is where the role of Ogra becomes central. As the primary regulator of the midstream and downstream sector, Ogra has the mandate that extends beyond retail oversight into enforcing safety standards across depots, bowsers and LPG infrastructure. Its inspections, audits and alignment with international benchmarks reflect an effort to institutionalise safety rather than react to accidents.
Globally, effective energy systems treat health, safety and environment practices as an operating culture, reinforced through training, data and leadership accountability. For Pakistan, strengthening safety culture is not a corporate preference but a policy obligation, essential to protecting lives, public trust and economic continuity.
Hamdan Siddiqui
Karachi
