By Farooq Awan

Pakistan may need to deploy around 24,000 devices across petrol stations to operationalise its proposed mobile-app-based fuel quota system, according to the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan, highlighting the scale of infrastructure and administrative effort required for implementation.

ICMA Pakistan said the government’s app-based fuel quota plan aims to deliver subsidised fuel in a controlled, transparent, and accountable manner. However, the report cautioned that the system’s success will depend heavily on operational readiness at the retail level.

According to the document, the Ministry of Information Technology and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) plan to deploy around 24,000 mobile devices — roughly two per petrol station — for voucher verification. These devices would be used to scan or input digital vouchers generated through the mobile app, verify remaining quotas, and authorise fuel dispensing only within permitted limits.

The report noted that petrol stations would also require separate dispensers and dedicated devices for subsidised fuel to ensure proper segregation and accurate transaction tracking.

Implementation will require coordination across multiple institutions. The Ministry of Information Technology would manage the app, devices, and technical support, while the Ministry of Petroleum would oversee supply planning, strategic allocation, and emergency response. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority would be responsible for compliance, data oversight, and reporting, while oil marketing companies would assign station-level staff for operations and customer support.

ICMA identified several key risks, including the cost of retrofitting stations, ensuring reliable connectivity, training staff, managing quotas for millions of vehicles, processing exemptions, and handling emergency requests. It also warned that duplicate registrations, incorrect data entries, and cross-regional misuse could undermine the system if verification mechanisms remain weak.

To mitigate these risks, the report recommended establishing a centralised real-time monitoring dashboard, deploying district-level registration teams, linking quotas to geographic regions, and setting up centralised complaint and support channels, including hotlines, SMS services, and in-app help desks.

It further proposed emergency-override protocols for verified medical or disaster-related travel and suggested a phased rollout strategy, including a three-month pilot phase, a six-month expansion, and a 12-month nationwide implementation with continuous evaluation and adjustments.

The report underscored that the proposed digital fuel quota system is not merely a software solution. Its success will depend on the strength of physical infrastructure, data integrity, and institutional capacity across the entire fuel distribution chain.

Credit: INP-WealthPk