Pakistan sticks to low grade Euro 2 Petrol

Pakistan just like other fields of technology is lagging behind innovations made in fields of oil too. Cheap and third-rate Euro 2 petrol is still being consumed in Pakistan when world including India have gone way too ahead. At a time when world is consuming Euro 6 grade petrol, we in Pakistan are using inferior quality petrol which not only depreciating engines life but smoke from such petrol causing humanrelated diseases too.

Lack of planning and quest to move ahead, our institutions are slumbering like never before. Euro 6 petrol is essential to be understood so that we could differentiate between different grades of petrol we on daily basis put into our vehicles.

Let us start with Euro 1 which is a yardstick of measuring quality of petrol and in which quantity of sulphur is 1000 parts per million (PPM). While this quantity is 500 PPM in Euro 2, 300 PPM in Euro 3, 50 PPM in Euro 4 and 10 PPM in Euro 5 and 6.

Euro 1 petrol was introduced in July 1992. After a deep slumber, relevant institutions kept on ignoring up gradation of petrol and could introduce only Euro 2.

Only 30 percent of petrol is produced in Pakistan while rest of it is gained through oil imports from KSA, Iran, and UAE primarily.

These countries are producing Euro 5 level petrol and are planning to upgrade to Euro 6 till 2020. Iran is almost close to jumping to Euro 6. In this regard, relevant planning has been completed.

Astonishingly PARCO, Attock, National Refinery, Pakistan Refinery, Byco Refinery also use Euro 2, ignoring the latest technology of petrol.

Our arch-rival India has spent too many resources to upgrade oil technology. She has spent more than 550 billion rupees and is planning to spend more (Rs300 billion) in this sector. In 2000 India was at Euro 1 and introduced Euro 2 in 2005 while attained category 3 in 2010. India jumped to category 4 in 2016 and 5 in 2017. She is now eyeing on Euro 6 to meet international petroleum standards till 2020. With this, India would stand in line with America, Japan, and European Union. Euro 2 is quite hazardous and is deadly for proper functioning of engines. This category limits engine s functioning life.

Owners of Petrol pumps accept the fact that they adulterate petroleum products but put blame on government for not listening to them. According to Abdul Sami, President Petrol Pumps Association of Pakistan, Iranian petrol comes to Pakistan and is quite cheap. Almost in entire Balochistan, this oil is being used. Laboratory tests have revealed that refineries in Pakistan are using lethal chemicals to increase Octane level in low quality petrol.