ISLAMABAD – Hundreds of dormant petrol pumps now become focus of nationwide investigation. After recording no sales for three consecutive months, nearly 500 outlets suddenly reported thousands of liters of petrol and diesel sold within weeks, which is an unusual pattern that prompted OGRA to investigate whether the transactions reflect legitimate business or a possible attempt to legitimize illegally sourced fuel.
A startling revelation by Acting Chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) triggered nationwide investigation after nearly 500 petrol pumps, previously considered inactive for months, suddenly reported the sale of thousands of liters of petrol and diesel, raising fears of possible fuel laundering or the legalization of smuggled petroleum products.
OGRA officials said the identified petrol pumps recorded no sales or operational activity during December, January, and February, effectively classifying them as dormant or non-functional. However, in a dramatic and unexplained turnaround, the same outlets began reporting large-scale fuel sales in March and April, setting off alarm bells within the country’s top energy regulator.
Acting Chairman of OGRA confirmed that a comprehensive investigation has been launched to determine whether the reported transactions represent genuine commercial activity or are part of an organized attempt to disguise illegal fuel as legitimate stock.
As part of the inquiry, OGRA directed concerned petrol pump owners to submit electricity bills and operational records to verify whether the outlets were actually functioning during the period in question. Surprisingly, officials say all of the pump owners provided an almost identical explanation, claiming they had shifted entirely to solar power and were no longer connected to the national electricity grid.
The striking similarity in these responses has further deepened suspicions, prompting regulators to widen the scope of the investigation. Authorities are now examining whether the reported sales were used to legalize smuggled or illegally sourced petroleum products through fabricated or manipulated sales records.
OGRA officials said a detailed audit of all available data, transaction records, and operational documents is currently underway. Surveillance of the identified petrol pumps has also been intensified to detect any ongoing irregularities and prevent further violations.
The regulator said a final investigation report will be released after the audit is completed, a report that could expose one of the country’s most significant suspected fuel-sector irregularities in recent years.
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