ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping crackdown on illegal petrol pumps, provincial governments have sealed 917 outlets operating without the mandatory K-Forms (explosive licenses). The operation primarily targeted petrol stations abandoned or surrendered by oil marketing companies (OMCs), along with numerous illegal “dabba” stations selling smuggled petroleum products.
Authorities revealed that 1,310 illegal retail outlets selling smuggled petroleum products were identified, with the majority in Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Sindh, and Balochistan. The operation resulted in 559 closures in Punjab, 58 in Sindh, 172 in KPK, and all 128 illegal outlets in Balochistan.
The crackdown aims to phase out smuggling and regulate the petroleum sector, with further action planned against outlets involved in selling unauthorized diesel products.
Story by Khalid Mustafa
