ISLAMABAD: The first Aramco’s branded retail fuel station in Islamabad has been made operational but without taking prior permission of the Capital Development Authority the original owner of said petrol pump’s land.
Saudi oil giant opened its second outlet in Islamabad on main Embassy road few months ago following the inauguration of its first site in Lahore.
It is pertinent to mention here that the land of said petrol pump was leased out to a private firm M/S Muhammad Waris for running a petrol pump by CDA in 2017.
The said site in the capital city was earlier being operated under the brand name of Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd, commonly known as GO Petroleum but after company’s collaboration with Saudi oil company, the same is converted into Aramco’s branded site.
However, reliable sources inside the CDA informed that M/s Muhammad Waris did not bother to take permission prior to converting its petrol pump on the name of new company, which was required as per its agreement with CDA.
The pump site is a property of CDA Staff Welfare Committee (SWC), which had purchased two sites for petrol pumps in sectors F6/1 and G6/4 in the early 70s.
SWC is headed by Director General Administration while representatives of Finance, Audit and Workers Union are its members.
In 1973, the site of a petrol pump at Embassy Road G-6/4, was rented out to S.M. Ismail for a period of 30 years at the rate of Rs. 1000/- per month for first 15 years and an increase of 20% rent for second term of 15 years.
In 2015, fresh bids were invited to rent out said plot by CDA. A total of nineteen bids were received amongst which the highest one was Rs. 2,178,000/- per month from M/S Muhammad Waris.
Subsequently, the possession of site was handed over to private party in January 2017 and given four months to make the petrol pump operational.
When contacted, the Director Public Relations CDA Shahid Kiani after taking in put from relevant formation has informed that the said breach of contract by petrol pump leaseholder has came into the notice of concerned formation and an action would be taken as per the agreement.
Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company that produces approximately one in every eight barrels of the world’s oil supply. GO, one of Pakistan’s largest retail and storage companies, is involved in the procurement, storage, sale and marketing of petroleum products and lubricants.
However, while talking to this scribe, a senior officer of CDA said that the CDA lease holder should get proper permission as such violations could bring bad repute and unnecessary friction between the departments.
