ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs officials sealed 1,442 petrol pumps set up across the country illegally as part of a nationwide crackdown on petroleum smuggling on the directives of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) leading to a significant increase in government revenue under the head of Petroleum Development Levy
According to official documents, FBR identified a total of 1,576 illegal petrol pumps of which the majority have already been sealed. The government collected Rs828 billion in PDL during the first half of the current fiscal year July-December 2025 exceeding the target of Rs734 billion by Rs94 billion. From July to November, PDL revenue reached Rs706 billion reflecting an increase of Rs284 billion compared to the same period last year.
FBR officials stated that enhanced customs enforcement against the smuggling of petroleum oil and lubricants played a crucial role in boosting legal fuel distribution and improving government revenues. These actions are being carried out under the FBR’s Transformation Plan, which emphasizes the use of technology, stricter monitoring of fuel transportation, and the closure of smuggling routes at both border and domestic levels.
Pakistan Customs, in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and provincial governments has also introduced the “Rahguzar” mobile application to identify and monitor petrol pumps. The app enables authorities to digitally map both legal and illegal fuel outlets allowing for more effective surveillance and enforcement.
Officials noted that fuel smuggling had long caused market distortions and substantial revenue losses for the government. Document further stated that these measures reflect a shift from smuggled fuel to legally imported and domestically produced POL products, including motor spirit and high speed diesel.
