TLTP
PESHAWAR
The office-bearers of Petrol Pumps Association have termed the ban imposed by district authorities on sale of petrol to bikers without wearing helmets as ‘anti-business’ and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
They raised these reservations and apprehensions during a meeting with President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Engineer Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz here at the Chamber House on Sunday.
They expressed serious concern over heavy fines, harassment, arrests of staff and sealing of filling stations on the pretext of violating the district administration’s orders regarding ban on sale of petrol to bikers without wearing helmets in the provincial metropolis. The owners also complained that some bikers have tortured the petrol pumps managers and other staff on refusal to give them petrol.
Maqsood Pervaiz said that it is the prime duty of traffic police, excise department and other relevant government departments to enforce road safety rules instead of forcing petrol pumps owners/business community to implement such rules by hook and crook.
The SCCI chief claimed that the district administration has charged fines from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 per pump on pretext of violation of the ban, which is completely unjust with the business community that is already badly affected by coronavirus lockdown.
On the other hand, the SCCI president said that incidents of cash snatching on petrol pumps have also increased due to lack of adequate security, which is a great question mark on the performance of the government departments concerned. Maqsood Pervaiz asked the district administration to stop imposing heavy fines, arresting petrol pumps staff and their harassment with various tactics; otherwise, the business community would be compelled to launch a protest movement in the provincial capital.
He asked the government to devise business-friendly policies to resolve issues of the community instead of further multiplying their problems. He demanded the district administration to withdraw notification regarding ban on sale of petrol to bikers without helmet.
