KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has demanded an immediate and transparent forensic audit of all oil refineries, arguing that consumers could receive relief of up to Rs40–50 per litre on petroleum products.

The demand was raised during an emergency meeting of petroleum dealers in Karachi, where participants discussed refinery profits, petroleum prices and possible measures to provide relief to consumers.

Petroleum Dealers Association Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said refineries had earned profits equivalent to an entire year's earnings within just three months. He said the Petroleum Minister's statement had also reinforced the concerns raised by petroleum dealers.

Vice Chairman Anwar Kamal said consumers could be given relief of Rs40–50 per litre instead of just Rs15. He argued that announcing limited relief without investigating refinery profits would effectively amount to granting them an NRO.

Deputy Chairman Tariq Hassan said the objective was not to provide relief to refineries but to return the people's own money to them.

The association called for a comprehensive forensic audit of all refineries to establish the facts about their past profits and prevent additional financial burdens on consumers in the future.

Petroleum dealers also demanded representation in key petroleum sector decision-making committees, stressing that major stakeholders should not be excluded from the policymaking process.