Islamabad: Pakistan government has intensified its crackdown against smuggled and substandard petroleum products across the country, causing loss of Rs150 billion to the national exchequer. During a major drive against oil smugglers, officials have seized petroleum products worth Rs497.37 million.
At least 609 fuel stations across the country have been sealed with about 4.5 million litres of petrol and diesel seized under a non-discriminatory action led by the Ministry of Interior.
The PM Office said, “If the sealed pumps fail to produce valid documentation within seven days of sealing, they will be “confiscated by the state under the Customs Act along with all properties of the owners, as it would be deemed that these properties were acquired with smuggling proceeds.”
The official statement added, “The campaign against oil smuggling is continuing unabated and showing significantly good results.”
Our Prime Minister Imran Khan believes that smuggling was causing irreparable loss to the country’s economy. Few reports claim that oil smuggling in Pakistan and its sale at 2094 filling stations across the county are causing an annual economic loss of whopping Rs150 billion to the country.
The smuggled petrol is reportedly sneaked into Pakistan’s south-western province of Balochistan from Iran. Pakistan is also fencing its 900-km border with Iran to stem the flow of illegal crossings and halt smuggling.
