Price control: Fuel stations in Bahalwalpur overcharging

Charging customers Rs85.28 per litre though the notified on December 1 is Rs84.53 per litre

BAHAWALPUR:

Most fuel stations in Bahawalpur are charging their customers Rs85.28 per litre though the notified on December 1 is Rs84.53 per litre. Muhammad Nauman, a resident of Model Town, told The Express Tribune that he found out about reduction in fuel prices through the news.

“At most fuel stations I went to after the prices were reduced, I saw price lists charging Rs85.28,” he says.

He said many people were confused about the new prices because though there was a marked reduction, they were still paying more than required. He urged the government to take action against petrol pumps overcharging their customers.

“Last time when fuel prices dropped, the assistant commissioner raided some petrol stations and sealed them for overcharging. This time the administration has not taken any action to address the issue,” he says.

Jawad Anwar, a resident of Dilawar Colony, said it was the job of the federal government to reduce fuel prices and the responsibility of the district administration to enforce the new prices.

Petrol pump owner Sheikh Abbas Raza says the fuel stations were purchasing at Rs84.53 per litre.

“We have to bring it to Bahawalpur. We have to recover our transport costs,” he said. “If we don’t, we make losses.” Talking to The Express Tribune, Assistant Commissioner Rao Tasleem said the district administration had been conducting surveys of price lists displayed at various petrol pumps and had imposing fines on those found overcharging their customers.

“No one will be allowed to flout government orders,” he said. “If owners of fuel stations do not stop overcharging their customers, we will have to take stricter action.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2014.