Farooq Mughal Elected Rawalpindi-Islamabad Petrol Pumps President
Farooq Mughal secured 183 of 222 votes cast, while association leaders raised concerns over reimbursement, dealer margins and implementation of the government’s Rs100-per-litre targeted fuel relief scheme.
ISLAMABAD: Sardar Farooq Mughal has been elected president of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad chapter of the All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association after securing a decisive majority in the association’s presidential election.
According to election details provided by the association, 222 of the 300 eligible dealers exercised their right to vote. Mughal, contesting with the lion as his election symbol, received 183 votes, while his rival Abdul Aziz, whose symbol was a candle, secured 39 votes.
Following the announcement of results, association members and participating dealers congratulated Mughal on his election.
Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Abbas thanked his assistants Chaudhry Ajmal and Ilyas, as well as central chairman Humayun Khan, vice chairman Nauman Ali Butt and participating members for facilitating the election process. The association also announced that its electoral process would continue in other districts.
Speaking at the event, central chairman Humayun Khan described the election as a democratic exercise and congratulated Mughal on his victory. He said petrol pump owners were major stakeholders in the petroleum retail sector but argued that dealers were not adequately consulted during policymaking.
Khan said the association would seek to protect the individual and collective interests of petrol pump owners and called for stronger district-level bodies.
Dealers Raise Questions Over Fuel Relief Programme
The gathering also focused heavily on the federal government’s recently introduced targeted fuel relief programme. The Economic Coordination Committee approved around Rs75 billion for the three-month scheme on September 14. Under the official framework, eligible two- and three-wheelers receive relief equivalent to Rs100 per litre on five litres per week, while eligible non-commercial cars up to 800cc receive relief based on 30 litres per month. The programme is being digitally managed through the Fuel Pass System.
Association leaders, however, raised questions about how petrol pump operators would be reimbursed for discounted fuel supplied under the programme.
Vice Chairman Nauman Ali Butt said dealers needed greater clarity regarding the reimbursement mechanism and argued that frequent changes in petroleum prices were creating financial and operational difficulties for retailers.
He also alleged that some local administration and police personnel had pressured petrol pump operators during implementation. Islamabad Tribune could not independently verify these allegations, and no response from the relevant authorities was included in the material provided.
Butt indicated that the association could announce a future course of action over dealers’ concerns, although no specific date or formal action plan was announced at the event.
The government, for its part, says the Fuel Pass System is intended to ensure transparent and targeted delivery of relief to eligible consumers. The Finance Division says the programme has an allocation of approximately Rs75 billion and is designed to provide targeted assistance to lower-income consumers.
Addressing participants after his victory, newly elected president Farooq Mughal thanked dealers for placing their confidence in him and pledged to work on issues facing petrol pump owners, including dealer commissions and other operational concerns.
His rival Abdul Aziz also thanked voters and said contesting the election was part of the democratic process, adding that he would continue working for the association’s improvement.
Senior Vice President Rawalpindi-Islamabad Chaudhry Asif Mahmood Taj and representatives including Jan Alam Khan, Gul Nawaz Afridi and Sheikh Safi Qayyum also addressed the gathering and called for stronger representation of petrol pump dealers.
