PESHAWAR: Owners of filling stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday observed a one-day strike against the federal government’s “failure” to ban the sale of smuggled Iranian petroleum products at illegal makeshift petrol pumps.

In a related development, members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Petroleum Dealers and Cartage Association met with deputy commissioner of Peshawar Afaq Wazir, according to an official statement.

Association chairman Abdul Majid, general secretary Gul Nawaz Afridi, and other office-bearers briefed the deputy commissioner about their reservations. The district administration agreed to start a crackdown on illegal filling stations.

The association agreed to cooperate with the district administration in checking the sale of Iranian petrol.

Peshawar district admin promises crackdown

The association leaders also agreed to get their samples checked in the laboratory and submit certificates to the district administration.

Earlier during the strike, most filling stations in the provincial metropolis remained closed, troubling motorists and motorcyclists.

Long queues of vehicles and motorcycles were observed at filling stations that didn’t take part in the strike.

The call for a strike was given by the Pakhtunkhwa Petroleum Dealers Association.

Association chairman Abdul Majid and general secretary Gul Nawaz Afridi said filling stations went for the strike only because the federal government ignored their demand for a crackdown on the sale of smuggled petrol.

“We requested authorities time and again to check the sale of smuggled petroleum products, but to no avail. These Iranian products are openly sold at illegal filling stations in Peshawar, hitting the businesses of taxpaying traders,” Mr Majid told reporters.

The association leaders said instead of taking action against those illegal filling stations, the local administration harassed owners of authorised petrol pumps and their employees for one reason or another.

They warned that if their demands weren’t met, then the lawful petrol pumps would go on strike for an indefinite period.

Mr Majid and Mr Afridi alleged that the district administration had started retaliatory tactics to raise their voice against the illegal sale of petroleum products in the region.

They demanded an immediate end to raids on authorised filling stations and said that the government should encourage and facilitate taxpayers to do business to strengthen the economy.

“This one-day strike was meant to record our protest against the sale of smuggled petroleum products. In case the government doesn’t accept our demands, we [filling stations] will announce a strike across the province for an indefinite period,” Mr Siraj warned.

He said that the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association also threw its weight behind the strike, urging the government to check the sale of smuggled petroleum products in the province.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2024