ISLAMABAD: Digital monitoring of petrol pumps across the country has been made mandatory in a major policy shift aimed at ensuring transparency in the petroleum supply chain.
Under the new mechanism, it has been made compulsory for all filling stations to use OGRA-recommended smartphones for real-time monitoring of oil arrival, sales, and available stock.
According to details, a special mobile application has been installed in the recommended devices. OGRA has made it mandatory for every petrol pump to keep two smartphones of a specific company, with the relevant Oil Marketing Company (OMC) responsible for implementing the digital monitoring system.
Sources said pump owners are being charged Rs 72,000 each for the smartphones manufactured by a specific company.
Petrol pump owners, however, have expressed serious concerns over the financial implications of the decision. According to dealer representatives, around 25,000 to 26,000 smartphones were provided through OMCs. With the immediate implementation of the directive, mobile phones worth an estimated Rs 80 to 90 crore of a single company have been sold.
Dealers allege they were forced to purchase the devices, with OMCs deducting approximately Rs 72,000 per filling station.
“Under what legal authority was this amount deducted, who approved it, and when will its full accounting be made available to the public and dealers?” pump owners questioned.
On the other hand, officials maintain that the digital surveillance system will help prevent artificial shortage of petroleum products, hoarding, smuggling, and stock manipulation. The system is also expected to help run any future subsidy program in a more transparent and targeted manner.
Responding to the rationale, petrol pump owners stated that the success of a digital system does not depend solely on purchasing a new app or mobile phone. They argued that if OGRA’s digital application can be easily downloaded on any smartphone, there was no justification for imposing an additional financial burden by restricting it to a specific brand.
It has been stated that OGRA has implemented the recommendations of the Ministry of Information Technology. However, dealers claim that on the face of it, the decision appears to have benefited a specific mobile phone manufacturer.
Petrol pump associations have demanded that OGRA clarify the legal framework for the mandatory purchase, disclose the procurement process, and ensure transparency in accounting of the deducted amount.
