LAHORE: The City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) claimed to have sealed the hlling stations, arresting their managers, that were found closed on Thursday on the pretext of unavailability of petrol following reduction in the POL prices.

On the other hand, the motorists were disappointed as they were denied petrol/ diesel by the petrol stations.

`Whenever the government reduces or increases POL prices, it`s the people who always have to suffer. I could not get petrol from here, now I am going to look for it at another filling station,` Zeeshan, a motorcyclist, told Dawn at a station in Iqbal Town.

This reporter also foundvarious petrol stations selling petrol and diesel on new rates as announced by the government.

`We neither closed our stations nor stopped POL sale. You can see we are selling petrol and other products as per new rates, said a stafferofa petrolstation in Johar Town.

According to Lahore District Coordination Officer retired Captain Muhammad Usman, the situation remained normal in the metropolis after the petrol and diesel prices` new rates.

`Of the total 285 petrol stations in the city, we found only 24 not selling the petroleum products. We sealed these pumps and arrested their managers besides ensuring their supply from the depots on time.

Later, we de-sealed 13 of them so that they could start fueling the vehicles, he told Dawn.

He said under a plan, any filling station, found refusing POL sale, had to face aheavy fine, equivalent to its 10 day sale. Similarly, their owners had also to face arrest of their officials.

Owing to the strict action amid punishment to the filling stations, the situation was not so problematic this time, added.

Talking about the situation in the cantonment areas, the DCO said he had received reports that a majority of pumps there were not following the new prices.

`So we had special teams to arrest managers of such pumps in order to press them to sell POL as per new rates,` he said.

Talking about those overcharging at liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) outlets, Mr Usman claimed 325 owners of LPG outlets were arrested during the last five days.

Due to the action, the officials managed to bring down LPG price from Rs280 to Rs135, he said, adding that in the coming two days, it would further reduce to Rs125.