ISLAMABAD – Petroleum associations have planned to shut petrol pumps across Pakistan to stage a protest against the new daily fuel pricing formula.
The All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association has decided to close the petrol pumps at 12:00 am tonight. However, All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association said the filling station would be shut at 6:00 AM on Thursday.
Vice Chairman of the association, Inamul Haq Chaudhry, said the shutdown would continue until the group’s demands are accepted. He criticized the government’s stance, calling it inflexible, and said the decision was taken after efforts to resolve the issue failed.
The association is opposing the policy of daily petroleum price adjustments and is also seeking an increase in dealers’ profit margins. It argues that the current margin is financially unsustainable for fuel station operators.
A final position from the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association is also expected following a press conference by its leadership.
Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Public Transport Owners Association and the Pakistan Mini Mazda Goods Transport Association have announced support for the strike.
Public Transport Owners Association President Nadeem Hussain said public transport services would also be suspended once petrol pumps close, urging the government to withdraw its daily fuel pricing policy.
Pakistan Mini Mazda Goods Transport Association President Sher Ali Chaudhry also backed the protest, saying Mini Mazda vehicles would stop operating from midnight. He said frequent fuel price revisions are increasing costs for transporters and called on the government to reverse its decision.
