ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has raised serious concerns over the government’s fuel relief scheme, saying the current mechanism is impractical and could create financial and operational problems for petrol dealers across the country. According to a PPDA spokesperson, concerns among petrol dealers have increased over the proposed implementation procedure. The association warned that the use of the current system could create opportunities for fraud through fake IDs, particularly in an era of artificial intelligence, while any resulting financial losses could ultimately fall on petrol dealers. The spokesperson pointed out that a single petrol station may have a queue of 35 to 50 motorcycles at a time. Checking the invoice of every motorcycle, they said, would be extremely difficult in practice and could result in long queues at petrol stations. The association warned that customers could face lengthy waiting times while dealers would have to deal with significant operational challenges. It also questioned who would bear the losses if 10 to 15 customers left during peak hours because of delays. The PPDA has called for an immediate review of the fuel relief mechanism and urged the petroleum minister to meet with representatives of petrol dealers before implementing the scheme. The association said the mechanism should be finalized in consultation with dealers. The dealers maintained that while the government could provide as much relief to consumers as it deemed necessary, petrol station owners should not be placed directly in the middle of the subsidy system. They suggested that relief should instead be delivered directly through the government and oil marketing companies. The association also warned that a lack of clear information about the scheme could lead to public complaints and further operational difficulties for petrol stations. An emergency meeting of petrol dealers has been called to discuss the fuel relief scheme in detail. The meeting will review the proposed mechanism, address the concerns of dealers and discuss the future course of action. The PPDA said it would announce its position and future strategy within 24 to 48 hours following consultations. The association also plans to hold a press conference within 48 hours. Meanwhile, Inam-ul-Haq Chaudhry, Vice Chairman of the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association, has also called on the government to clearly explain the mechanism for providing the fuel subsidy. He said petrol pump owners had neither been taken into confidence nor informed about how the subsidy would be transferred to petrol stations. According to Chaudhry, petrol pump owners are already facing working-capital pressures due to frequent changes in fuel prices and cannot afford to carry an additional financial burden. He warned that if money remains tied up in the subsidy process, it could affect the timely supply and availability of fuel stocks. He urged the government to clearly define the mechanism before launching the subsidy scheme.
