Observer Report Islamabad
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has announced a nationwide strike and closure of fuel stations starting today (Thursday) over the government’s failure to increase the dealers’ profit margin, however, Pakistan State Oil has decided to keep its company operative stations open across the country during the strike.
According to the handout issued by the association on Wednesday, the strike will continue for an indefinite period.
The handout noted that a meeting of petrol dealers was held in Lahore on Saturday, where All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Dealers Association Information Secretary Khwaja Atif had noted that the government had promised to raise the dealers’ profit margin three years ago.
“The promise remains unfulfilled to date … [and] now, because of [growing] inflation and increase in the prices of petroleum products, it has become difficult for dealers to run fuel stations,” the press release read.
It added that the dealers had previously given the call for a strike from November 5 but had withdrawn it after a government team, led by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, held a meeting with them on November 3 and agreed to fulfil their demands.
The meeting had also constituted a committee led by Petroleum Secretary Dr Arshad Mahmood and comprising stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the agreement for the increase in margins through approval from the Economic Coordination Committee.
