KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs in a joint operation with City Administration and Police has demolished as many as 64 fuel stations, which were selling smuggled petrol/diesel causing loss to national revenue.
This petrol/diesel, which is of Iran origin is smuggled into the country through launches and is distributed to different fuel stations in the country with the help of some oil marketing companies (OMCs).
The highest number of fuel stations selling smuggled petrol/diesel was found in District West, where 36 such installations were demolished. As it was the second day of operation, the illegal elements had abandoned their shops/pumps and the entire inventory had been removed. However, the installations were completely destroyed.
The authorities had formed six operating teams led by Assistant Collector Wasif Malik and Assistant Collector Adnan Rafiq.
It was learnt that the District administration and Customs officials would remain in contact/coordination to avoid the resurgence of these illegal fuel stations.
Collector Preventive, Tariq Huda would hold a press conference on Friday and would apprise the media about the campaign that was carried out successfully.
The authorities launched a campaign; Customs had identified over 150 suspicious petrol pumps, so the Customs sought details of inventory sold and procured from these stations, which was counter-checked by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC). Finally, it was confirmed that 64 stations were involved in trading of illegal and smuggled petroleum products.