07 June 2004	Monday	18 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

The oil market is heating up after the entry of the new franchized companies in the fuel retail business but the question being asked is whether on not they will operate beyond the existing formidable cartel for the benefit of general consumer.

In an expanding petroleum product market essentially dependent on imports, consumers may remain at the receiving end until a real open market competition is allowed among the giants by the government. The newcomers have, of course, a chance to survive in a protected market by providing better client services and quality products.

The consumption pattern-both bulk and retail-remain nearly unchanged for the last couple of decades as three major oil marketing companies are operating almost in a protected and secure market.

The Total International (TI) (France) and the Attock Refinery owned by a Saudi Arabian group may have caused ripples in the relatively calm retail oil business. Both have