PESHAWAR, Aug 9: Representatives of the All-Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association on Wednesday called upon two oil companies, exporting diesel to Kabul, to pay compensation to the heirs of 16 of their members killed in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Addressing a news conference here at the press club, APOTOA’s Chairman Mir Mohammad Yousuf Shahwani said that during the past month, seven drivers had been killed after terrorists blew up nine tankers in different areas of the country. He said the terrorists had also targeted oil tankers on the Afghan boder near Chaman, adding that nine tankers had been hit by rockets in Kandhar, killing all drivers and cleaners.

He said: “Pakistan State Oil and Attock Oil supply diesel to Afghanistan, but they do not provide insurance cover for the drivers, cleaners or their vehicles. We have been urging the oil companies to provide insurance coverage but they had done nothing about it.”

He said: “We do not know the legal status of the oil export to Afghanistan. If it is between two governments, our men should be provided life security and insurance coverage.” He said highways robbers had also killed drivers and cleaners in Rahimyar Khan and Gujranwala.

He said that if drivers and cleaners were not provided security and insurance coverage, their association had no other option but to suspend oil supply to Afghanistan.

He demanded of the government to provide them a subsidy on oil so that they could bear the rising cost of diesel. Both the oil companies should provide protection to drivers and their helpers on different routes, he added.

Mir Shahwani underlined the need for holding a meeting of officials of Pakistan, Afghanistan, the oil companies and their organisation to chalk out a joint strategy to provide adequate protection to drivers and vehicles in both countries. He criticised the National Highway Authority for charging too much toll across the country, adding that there were eight toll plazas between Lahore and Faisalabad and they had to pay a large sum to cross them. The NHA is also responsible for roads in the NWFP and some areas of Balochistan.

He urged the government to hold an inquiry into the embezzlement of Rs20 million at Hubb Chowki toll plaza in Balochistan and said if their demands were not met they would go on a countrywide strike. They organised a demonstration outside the club to press for their demands.