KARACHI: 76 illegal petrol pumps and depots in six districts of Karachi have been demolished in two days crackdown operation initiated by Pakistan Customs along with other law enforcing agencies including police and district administrations.
This was revealed by Chief Collector of Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem while addressing a press conference at Customs House Karachi.
MCC Preventive Collector Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Director Asif Marghoob Siddiqui, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Malik Khuda Bux, Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on petroleum Sami Khan, Chairman Oil and Petroleum Association and other Customs officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the press conference, Chief Collector of Enforcement-South Muhammad Nazim Saleem said that the South Region of Pakistan Customs on the directives of FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa and Director General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation, Luftullah Virk has formulated a joint line of action in order to launch grand operation against illegal petrol pumps established in the vicinity of Karachi.
“It was a peaceful and successful operation in which 56 illegal petrol pumps have been completely demolished by the law enforcement agencies officials while 20 sites of petrol pumps have been sealed temporarily, as they have produced legal documents of the petrol pumps sites. However, the authorities of Pakistan Customs are verifying the documents by Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) and dealers’ associations,” he added.
Nazim Saleem further informed the media that 10 illegal petrol pumps have been dismantled in Hub area in the month of April and seized 26 pick-ups containing 80,000 litres of diesel in Dalbandeen, Quetta.
“Total 360,000 litres of petrol and diesel have been seized by officials during the crackdown on illegal petrol pumps. The seized diesel/petrol has been auctioned to OMCs,” he further added.
Responding to a query, Chief Collector informed that 150,000 litres of petrol/diesel was being smuggled in a day before initiating the grand operation against illegal petrol pumps, adding that the action has been taken against the illegal petrol pumps according to the Section (II) of the Customs Act, 1969.
Nazim Saleem said that it was not a one-time operation against the illegal petrol pumps, while the regular episodes would be continued against those illegal petrol pumps.
Answering to another question, Chief Collector Enforcement-South further informed that the process of verification of 20 sealed petrol pumps would be completed by Additional Collector of Headquarters-I Shafqat Ali Khan Niazi within a week.
Speaking at the press conference, MCC Preventive Collector Tariq Huda vowed that Pakistan Customs will free the Karachi from organized crimes and revive the past glories of the city.
On the occasion, Huda thanked the Commissioner Karachi and officials of Sindh Police for their all-out support with Pakistan Customs during the cleanup operation.
Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Asif Marghoob Siddiqui expressed his pleasure over the successful completion of operation against illegal petrol pumps.
Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has termed the crackdown on illegal petrol pumps, a ‘historic move’, adding that complete and thorough investigation had been made before launching the crackdown.
Commissioner Karachi said that the law enforcement officials came forward on the call made by national institution i.e. Pakistan Customs, adding that the police, Pakistan Customs, law enforcement agencies and civil society were eager to eliminate illegal activities from the city.
On the occasion, Siddiqui thanked the officers of Pakistan Customs and Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat on their successful completion of the operation.
Sami Khan and Malik Huda Bux appealed to Pakistan Customs officials concerned to keep proper monitoring of the ongoing operation, so that those illegal activities could not be started again.
