ISLAMABAD:The Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has expressed concerns regarding OGRA’s recent directive on the procurement of specific mobile devices for the operationalization of the Digital Fuel Management System at retail outlets.
In a letter dated April 2, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority, OMAP Chairman Tariq Wazir Ali laid out the industry’s objections in measured but firm terms, making clear that while oil marketing companies fully back the government’s broader digitization agenda for the petroleum sector, the specific directive as currently framed demands urgent reconsideration on both practical and regulatory grounds.
Arguing the move imposes unnecessary financial strain, violates competitive neutrality, and risks operational rigidity across retail outlets, OMAP on behalf of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has formally urged the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to withdraw its vendor-specific requirement for DFMS implementation, stressing that most fuel stations already possess adequate Android and iOS smartphones capable of supporting digital operations. The association said mandating a single brand or model from one vendor contradicts principles of transparency and fair procurement, adding that the industry is already grappling with low margins, rising costs and delayed reimbursements.
OMAP, in a letter to OGRA chairman, warned that restricting technology to a particular vendor could create dependency, undermine market competition and burden companies with avoidable expenses at a time when global digital systems prioritize technological neutrality. It proposed that OGRA allow OMCs to use existing devices and independently ensure the availability of compatible Android smartphones instead of enforcing a brand-specific purchase.
Closing on a constructive note, OMAP also urged OGRA to suspend the vendor-specific requirement immediately, review the directive in its totality, and initiate a structured stakeholder consultation process aimed at developing a transparent and practical implementation framework — one that achieves the government’s digitization objectives without placing disproportionate burdens on an industry already navigating a difficult economic landscape.
The post OMCs raises concerns in response to OGRA Directive on procurement of Mobile Devices appeared first on Profit by Pakistan Today.