ISLAMABAD - AHMAD AHMADANI - Owing to persistent hue and cry of extra charging, product unavailability, less filling and sale of adulterated/low quality petrol and diesel at petrol pumps, Ogra has decided to take action against Oil Marketing Companies (OMSs) and their respective dealers.
Informed circles told The Nation that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has finally decided to take action against OMCs and their respective petrol pump dealers owing to long standing common news/public interest issues of extra charging, product unavailability, less filling and sale of adulterated/low quality petrol and diesel at petrol pumps in the country. With this decision, taken apparently in a bid to provide relief to the inflation-hit masses, now consumers can lodge their complaints against less filling and low quality/adulterated petrol and diesel to the District Coordination Officers (DCOs)/labour inspectors of their respective districts. Ogra will also conduct surprise inspections at petrol pumps to check the quantity and quality of petrol and diesel.
They said, though for the satisfaction of consumers, graduated cylinders (1 litre capacity) will be now available at the respective petrol pumps and then they (consumers) can better ascertain the dispensing of correct quantity. Yet, no measure even method has been made available at the petrol pumps to check the quality of petrol and diesel. No petrol pump could sell petrol and diesel at higher than the official notified retail prices of the petrol and diesel, which must be communicated by the OMCs to their respective dealers immediately after the change in notified prices, they added. 
Sources aware of the matter, when contacted, said that a trend of hoarding, overcharging remained up in the market after the government decision of fortnightly oil pricing in the country. As consumers complaints were not taken sensitively and there was no prompt/strict response towards the public interest matter by responsible authorities particularly at the gross root levels, so Ogra had to decide this action to end the monopoly and persistent ‘robbery’ of OMCs and their dealers in the country.
Copy of Ogra Public Notice available with TheNation has further confirmed the info. In accordance with the notice it has been decided to take action against the OMCs and their respective petrol pump dealers, who are found involved in the violation of overcharging, product unavailability, less filling and sale of low quality /adulterated petrol and diesel.
“Primarily, the responsibility to take action against the petrol pumps dealers, involved in less filling, lies with the labour officers/inspectors (Weight & Measures Department) of the provincial/district governments. Moreover, the DCOs can take action against the petrol pump dealers found involved in sale of low quality/adulterated petrol & diesel “, Ogra Public Notice said.