ISLAMABAD
The first phase of negotiations between the Ministry of Petroleum and petrol dealers has ended without any progress on Saturday. The deadlock persisted between the Petroleum Minister and Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) over demand of hike in the dealers’ commission. The petroleum association has threatened to observe a nationwide strike on July 18 if the government fails to fulfill its demand of fixing the dealer margin at 6 per cent. “Petrol pumps across the country will be shut down on July 18,” it maintained. In a statement, PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that the Ministry of Petroleum has summoned the petrol dealers on Sunday again. Giving details of the meeting, Sami Khan said that the Petroleum Minister, Chairman OGRA, and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were present in the talks. On the other hand, Aamir Khan, Petroleum Ministry official, said that the petrol dealers have submitted their expenditure and income statement. “The dealers have demanded a six per cent hike in the commission,” he added. He hoped that the legitimate demands of petroleum dealers will be accepted.
