PESHAWAR: The Chief Patron of the Petroleum Dealers Association, Maqsood Ahmed, along with other officials, held an emergency press conference at the Peshawar Press Club and registered a strong protest against the attitude of the district administration and illegal “dabba stations”.
Addressing the press conference, Maqsood Ahmed said that the district administration across the province has understood that petrol pumps are their inheritance. He expressed serious reservations and said that “Assistant Commissioners (ACs) and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) raid petrol pumps as if they were their personal estate.” He added that despite the presence of the Deputy Commissioner’s NOC, dealers are being mistreated and heavy challans are being issued on various pretexts, making it impossible to do business.
Maqsood Ahmed termed the illegal Dabba stations set up in the city as a major threat to public safety. He said “These Dabba stations set up in various places in the city are like someone has planted a bomb in the middle of the population. They are extremely dangerous, but the administration is busy cracking down on legal pumps while no action is being taken against these dangerous stations.”
The officials said that petrol pumps are already laden with taxes, and despite paying heavy taxes, the administration’s attitude is insulting. He clarified that the dealers did not want to go on strike, but the strike was announced due to the implementation of a specific tax and the atrocities of the administration.
Keeping in mind the current sensitive situation in the provincial capital and the public interest, Maqsood Ahmed announced:
“We are postponing our strike for some time in view of the current situation, but if our demands are not accepted and the administration does not correct its Qibla, we will be forced to adopt a tough line of action again.”
The petroleum dealers demanded the government to stop the interference of the district administration and ensure the immediate closure of Dabba stations selling illegal petrol so that the legal business can continue with security.
