Fida Hussnain Lahore
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association will go on a nationwide strike today, Friday, causing serious concerns among the public. The dealers said they would hold a strike as a protest against imposition of an advance tax in the 2024-25 budget. The strike is taking place after failed talks between the dealers and the government officials.
However, the citizens here like other parts of the country flocked to the filling stations in Lahore, fearing that the strike could disrupt the sale and purchase of the petroleum products on the protest day.
“All gas stations will be closed acoss the country unless the government reverses its decision,” said Abdul Samad Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association.
The strike is likely to disrupt the transportation services that rely on these fuels. Abdul Samad Khan was of the view that they are concerned about 0.5% advance turnover tax included in the Finance Bill 2024-25, saying that it would render operations at petrol pumps unsustainable. “We want the government to immediately abolish the tax,” he said, making it clear that they had no other choice but to cease operations.
Khan said that despite meetings with senior officials, including the Oil Marketing Companies’ Advisory Council, unresolved issues persisted.
The PPDA planned to close 13,000 petrol stations starting from 6 am on July 5, with the possibility of extending the strike if their demands are not met promptly.
