KARACHI: A Pakistan petrol pump strike will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, the dealers’ association warned Wednesday. The shutdown depends on whether the government accepts its demands within 72 hours.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said petrol stations nationwide would close indefinitely if negotiations failed. He announced the ultimatum after the association’s executive committee met in Karachi on Tuesday.
The PPDA wants dealers’ margins increased to 8% of the retail price of petrol. Khuda Bakhsh said more than 14,000 dealers were pressing the association to act.
Dealers also want the federal government to review its daily petroleum pricing mechanism. They said frequent price changes caused inventory losses, reduced working capital and increased financial pressure.
The PPDA said Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik previously asked it to defer protest action. The minister reportedly promised to review the issues within two weeks, but dealers said that period expired without a resolution.
Read: Pakistan Fuel Prices: Petrol Falls Rs1.70, Diesel Rises Rs1.39
The shutdown warning came as a nationwide wheel-jam strike by goods transporters continued after talks ended without a breakthrough Tuesday.
Transporters want lower diesel taxes, predictable fuel prices, reduced tolls and relief from other regulatory costs. They said the strike would continue until authorities formally accepted their demands.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan promised early action on weigh-station complaints. However, transport representatives said assurances alone would not end the strike.
The Pakistan Textile Council said the disruption had delayed the arrival of raw materials and export consignments. Business groups also warned that a prolonged strike could affect food supplies and industrial production.
