By SKM
January 19, 2026
ISLAMABAD: In a major push to curb fuel smuggling and tighten regulatory control, the Government of Pakistan has rolled out an ambitious, technology-led reform package to digitalize the country’s petroleum sector from import terminals to petrol pumps.
The reforms introduce real-time tracking, digital monitoring, and stricter legal enforcement across the entire petroleum supply chain, aiming to eliminate illegal sales, improve transparency, and protect licensed fuel dealers.
Central to the initiative is a nationwide track-and-trace system that will link imports, refineries, tank lorries, terminals, and retail outlets into a single digital framework. Officials said the system will allow regulators to monitor fuel movement in real time and quickly identify leakages and irregularities.
As part of the drive, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has launched “Raahguzar,” a mobile application that provides verified details of legally operating petrol pumps across the country. The app enables consumers to identify authorized outlets, while also strengthening oversight by regulators.
Oversight of fuel transportation has also been stepped up. OGRA, in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), has developed a unified Track and Trace System for tank lorries, integrating ERP data, vehicle movement, terminal operations, and retail outlet information. In the next phase, petrol pumps will be equipped with automatic tank gauges and digital dispensing units to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of fuel stocks and sales.
On the upstream front, Pakistan earlier this year held its first offshore petroleum bidding round in 18 years, attracting bids for 23 exploration blocks. To enhance transparency and efficiency, the Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) is launching an online digital bidding portal, allowing exploration and production companies to submit bids and documentation electronically, replacing the traditional manual process.
The reforms also extend to explosives regulation. The Department of Explosives has implemented the Explosives Track and Trace System (ETTS), which monitors the explosives supply chain in real time from manufacturers to end users. Two phases of the system are already operational, helping prevent pilferage and improve safety and accountability.
To reinforce enforcement, the government has amended the Petroleum Act, 1934, introducing IT-based tracking of petroleum products, enabling confiscation of illegally handled fuel under the Customs Act, 1969, and imposing tougher penalties for unlawful storage, transportation, and dispensing.
In the gas sector, the Petroleum Division has developed long-term demand and supply models, pricing tools, and a circular debt reporting system to improve planning and financial transparency.
Officials said the sweeping reforms mark a decisive shift toward a technology-driven regulatory regime, aligning Pakistan’s petroleum sector with international best practices and closing the door on illicit fuel trade. Ends
