An oil tank exploded at an alleged illegal oil agency in Jhabran Mandi in Sheikhupura, killing seven people and injuring several others.
In Jhabran area, which is on the outskirts of Sheikhupura, several illegal mini petrol pumps are selling and buying oil. The roof of the agency collapsed due to the explosion.
According to a rescue service spokesman, five people died on the spot while four others were seriously injured and were shifted to the DHQ Hospital.
A rescue operation was underway to find more people buried under the rubble.
Rescue 1122 reached the spot on time and shifted four of the injured to the District Hospital Sheikhupura where the condition of the injured was said to be critical. This was not the first such incident in Sheikhupura. There have been many incidents before this in which many precious lives had been lost.
People have demanded of the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister to take strict action against such illegal oil stations. A report issued by the Anti-Corruption Department in 2020 had revealed that there were over 479 illegally-constructed petrol pumps active in the province.
Majority of these stations, which were mainly concentrated in Bahawalnagar, Gujranwala and Sahiwal divisions, had remained functional for several years without obtaining the 12 federal and provincial NOCs declared essential by the government. The petrol pumps, which had been constructed in close proximity to busy public areas like schools and hospitals, were also being investigated for selling smuggled petroleum products.
The Anti-Corruption Department had thus far sealed some 184 pumps on similar accounts, while inquiry was underway for the rest. In addition to that, the department in its report had also highlighted that over 35 per cent of petrol stations were involved in tempering of machines and petrol metres.
This reportedly caused customers to receive 15 to 20 per cent less petrol from pumps, while being charged full price.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2022.
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