Civil Defence teams have started a major operation against illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and petrol agencies across Rawalpindi.
During the raid, Civil Defence teams sealed 17 illegal LPG agencies and also seized all gas-filling equipment, machinery and cylinders.
In addition, six illegal petroleum agencies and one illegal petrol pump on Chakri Road were sealed.
The raids came after five passers-by were injured during a cylinder explosion at Farid Gas Agency in Bismillahabad Misriyal Road the other day.
Civil Defence official Sadaf Zahoor told The Express Tribune that the illegal cylinder agency, where the blast took place, had been sealed and a case has been registered against the owner.
He said that other illegal LPG shops in Bismillahabad, Chakri Road, Bakra Mandi, Dhok Syedan and Range Road were also sealed.
Zahoor said that the grand operation against illegal petrol and cylinder gas agencies, shops and illegal petrol pumps will continue daily. The operation will be launched in other tehsils of the district from Monday, he said.
The Civil Defence Department has placed a ban on decanting LPG cylinders in the urban areas of the district. The decision includes all licenced and unlicenced gas filling including gas filling in agencies and shops.
According to the official documents, there are around 138 licensed gas fillings agencies in the district while as many as 746 unlicensed gas filling agencies are operating illegally.
These open arsenal depots are largely operating in numerous areas including Kashmiri Bazaar, Dhoke Ratta, Ratta Amral, Dhoke Hassu, Gawalmandi, Pirwadhai Bangash Colony, Pirwadhai Road, Adyala Road, Dhamial Road, Rehmatabad as well as Dhoke Elahi Baksh.
A minor mistake can cause serious damage in colossal gas cylinders.
In a letter sent to the administration of different civic bodies in the district including Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Chaklala Cantonment Board and District Council, it has been directed to move filling agencies out of urban areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2022.
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