GUJRAT, Sept 3: Filling stations are fleecing people in Gujrat by selling petrol and diesel at rates higher than those fixed by the federal government.

The federal government has recently increased the prices of petroleum by Rs4.71 a litre, taking it to Rs109.14. Diesel’s new price is Rs112.26 a litre.

Almost all petrol pumps are charging at least Rs2 a litre additional amount on petrol for the last three days. Consumers have decried overcharging by petrol pumps and urged the district administration to check malpractice.

Representatives of the Petroleum Dealers Association say since the companies do not pay transportation charges to them and their commission has not been increased, dealers are compelled to charge extra price.

They further say they have to bear the cost of generators during loadshedding and salaries of the staff, which are not possible with the official rates.

DCO Asif Bilal Lodhi did not respond despite repeated attempts by this correspondent.

District Officer (Coordination) Shuja Qutab Bhatti told Dawn that the district administration did not have any authority to regularise the prices of petroleum products as the matter fell in the domain of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority. Ogra did not have regional office to check or maintain the prices, he said.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leader Saleem Sarwar Jaura in a statement issued here has condemned the fleecing of the people by the local petroleum dealers and demanded an immediate action. He also rapped the government for increasing the fuel prices.