Petition filed in PHC seeking closure of oil depot in Nowshera

Claims that depository is dangerously close to residential areas, linked to health hazards, risks

A petition has been filed in the Peshawar High Court seeking the closure of an oil depot located in the residential area of Nowshera Pabi, Tarro Jaba.

The petition, lodged by local Tehsil and Village Council Chairmen Gohar Ali and Taimoor Iqbal, names the federal government, the provincial government, Chairperson of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), and several other authorities as respondents.

The petition highlights concerns over the proximity of the oil depot to a government high school and nearby residential areas, with large oil tankers frequently seen near the school gates on GT Road.

According to the petitioners, this poses a significant risk of a major accident, as the oil depots are situated in a densely populated area.

The petition further claims that the oil depot, which houses facilities of Pakistan State Oil and other private companies, lacks the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the district administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It also alleges that the depot’s operations are contributing to the spread of diseases in the area, affecting public health.

In light of these concerns, the petitioners have requested that the court declare the oil depot hazardous and order its relocation to a safer, more suitable site.

The case is currently under review by the Peshawar High Court.