Petrol pumps face nationwide shutdown from August …
KARACHI: Petrol pump dealers across Pakistan have announced an indefinite closure of fuel stations from August 15.
The decision comes amid an ongoing strike by goods transporters. Talks between the government and transport representatives have failed to resolve their differences.
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association announced the decision on Tuesday after a meeting of representatives from different parts of the country.
Association Chairman Malik Khuda Baksh said dealers had given the government 72 hours to address their concerns.
He warned that petrol stations would remain closed until the dealers’ demands were accepted.
The dealers are mainly seeking an increase in their commission on petrol sales. They are demanding an 8% margin on petrol, saying the existing rate is no longer sufficient to cover rising operating costs.
Baksh said the association represents around 14,000 dealers and that members were under growing financial pressure.
He said dealers had previously postponed their strike after receiving assurances from the government that their concerns would be addressed.
According to the association, the government was given additional time to resolve the issue, but the deadline passed without a satisfactory outcome.
The dealers had earlier agreed to delay a planned nationwide shutdown following talks with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.
At the time, government representatives assured the dealers that their longstanding concerns would be considered.
However, the latest announcement indicates that no final agreement has been reached.
The dealers have also raised concerns over the mechanism used to determine fuel prices. They have called for greater clarity and timely implementation of decisions concerning petroleum margins.
The announcement comes as the country’s goods transport sector remains affected by a separate strike.
Transporters have continued their wheel-jam protest after talks with federal and provincial authorities failed to produce a breakthrough.
The overlapping disputes could create additional pressure on the country’s fuel supply and transport network if the shutdown goes ahead.
