Islamabad books four petrol pumps over tampering devices

The Islamabad district administration has booked four petrol pumps over suspicious electronic devices found on their premises and decided to cancel their no-objection certificates, Aaj News reported, in an intensified drive against short measurement at filling stations in the capital.

The action follows an inspection of 43 petrol pumps across the city. The administration said 29 of the pumps were dispensing the correct quantity of fuel. At the remaining 14, a total of 42 nozzles had been altered, and all 42 were sealed on the spot.

Cases were registered against the four pumps where the electronic devices were found, and the decision to cancel their NOCs was taken alongside the cases, according to the administration. It did not name the four pumps or say when the cancellations would take effect.

The administration said it would also take action against owners found selling less petrol or diesel than the quantity charged for. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad directed that inspections continue across the city without discrimination and that pumps dispensing short measure be sealed.

Aaj News reported earlier that 6 petrol pumps and more than 40 fuel nozzles had been sealed during the campaign, in which measurement at two pumps was found to have been altered through electronic devices and the staff concerned were arrested.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 5 November reviewed the Prime Minister's Fuel Relief Programme and directed that the licences of pumps which do not supply subsidised petrol to registered beneficiaries be cancelled. He also ordered strict action against pumps that obstruct implementation of the programme.