A number of fuel stations have been reported to have been selling petrol and diesel mixed with cheap kerosene. Sources are of the view that the mixing of kerosene has increased by 10-20pc.
The price of petrol stands at Rs74 and diesel costs Rs83 per litre while kerosene costs Rs44 per litre.
Chairman Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), Abdul Sami Khan is reported to have said that the practice may not be prevalent in big cities where big OMCs have effective check and balance mechanisms. He added that the mixing of petrol with kerosene is prevalent in small cities where the presence of OMCs is limited.
He said the price difference between petrol/diesel and kerosene has substantially widened during the past four years lending an opportunity to the dealers to continue with the contamination practice.
Khan added that PPDA cannot take an individual action against any pump owner, saying that this is the job of the government or the OMCs.
Khan regretted that he had been reasserting the government to maintain the price differential to Rs1 to Rs2 per litre in prices of petrol and diesel in order to curb the practice. He added that the government should not raise the price of kerosene so much that it affects the common man.
According to motorists, low mileage of petrol is a clear indicator of adulteration in the two fuels, which can otherwise be proven only through lab testing. They added that contaminated fuel also damages the vehicle engine and affects its performance.
An official in the oil industry stated that there are unconfirmed reports of contamination of higher value product with lower value product. However, there is a need to bring these reports to the notice of concerned authorities through the proper channel so that adequate measures can be taken to curb the practice.
Sources in the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said the company has been spot testing fuels through mobile quality testing unit network since 1998.The company is operating 24 mobile units at 17 locations across the country doing 25,000 spot checks per year. Huge penalties are imposed on pumps not maintaining quality standards, sources are reported to have said.
