Deadlock in Talks
Islamabad
The All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association on Tuesday announced a nationwide strike from midnight after negotiations with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik failed to produce a breakthrough.
Association spokesperson Nauman Ali Butt said the government’s proposal to revise petroleum product prices on a daily basis was unacceptable to petroleum dealers. He criticized the proposed mechanism, alleging that the frequent price adjustments would create uncertainty for both dealers and consumers.
Speaking to the media after the meeting with the petroleum minister, association leader Humayun Khan said the dealers had demanded a reasonable commission and monthly pricing of petroleum products instead of daily revisions.
He said petrol pump owners were facing severe financial difficulties and that the issue remained unresolved among OGRA, oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the government. He regretted that petroleum dealers were not consulted while formulating policies directly affecting their businesses.
The association warned that if the government failed to accept its key demands, including monthly price determination and an adequate dealer commission, petrol pumps across the country would remain closed from 12:00 midnight as part of the nationwide strike.
