LAHORE, Feb 12: More than 100 of the over 300 unauthorized loose petrol dealers operating in the city have been booked for violation of the Explosives Act by the district labour office during a campaign lodged for checking the unlawful practice.

The number of unauthorized petrol sellers was on the rise in the city because the Civil Defence officials were not fulfilling their responsibility to proceed against them.

District Coordination Officer Khalid Sultan took punitive action against some civil defence officials last month and ordered measures to control the unlawful business.

The district labour office started a survey and checking of licences of the loose petrol dealers and lodging of FIRs under the provisions of Explosives Act against those operating business without licence.

None of the dealers checked so far has been able to produce any licence. More than 220 dealers have so far been spotted in Garhi Shahu (37), Shahdara (37), Gulberg (30), Badami Bagh (23), Lahore Cantonment (23), Ghoray Shah/Misri Shah (18), Baghbanpura (18), Ichhra (10), Gowalmandi (10) and Walled City (7) during the ongoing survey.

More are also being brought on record for action. The district labour office also lodged seven FIRs against the petrol pumps owners and lubricant dealers after the samples collected from them were found substandard and adulterated on analysis. Only two of the nine samples analysed were found in conformity with the prescribed standards.