The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Dealers Association on Thursday called off a nationwide strike against the government’s failure to increase their profit margin.
The government and the association’s chairman, Abdul Sami Khan, reached the agreement after holding day-long negotiations.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and Petroleum Secretary Dr Arshad Mahmood were part of the government team.
Association spokesperson Jahanzaib Malik confirmed that petroleum dealers had called off the nationwide strike.
He said that they had initially demanded a six per cent increase in their profit margin, but the government had agreed to a 4.4pc increase. Malik said that petrol dealers were charging Rs3.91 per litre and would now charge Rs4.90. He said that the price of petrol would be increased after the government announced the rates for next month.
He said that agreement would be implemented from next month, adding that the government had vowed to review the profit margin after three months. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also shared the development in a tweet, stating that there were three pieces of good news.
“First, the petroleum dealers’ association has called off the strike. Second, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will start direct flights from Pakistan.
Third, all legal issues concerning the transfer of $3 billion from Saudi Arabi have been settled, and the money will be received this week,” he said.
