Talks Fail, Petrol Pumps to Shut Across Pakistan
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan could face disruptions in fuel availability after petrol pump owners announced a nationwide strike, rejecting the government’s proposed daily petroleum pricing mechanism following unsuccessful negotiations.
The All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association said fuel stations across the country would close from 12:00 midnight after talks with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik failed to produce an agreement.
The dispute centers on the government’s plan to introduce daily revisions in petrol and high-speed diesel prices. Dealers argue the proposed mechanism would create operational difficulties and increase financial uncertainty for petrol pump operators.
Addressing a press conference, Association Chairman Humayun Khan said the organization unanimously opposed the daily pricing formula, maintaining that fuel prices should continue to be revised on a monthly basis.
He also urged the government to resolve the longstanding issue of dealers’ commissions before implementing any new pricing policy.
Khan criticized the government for introducing major petroleum sector reforms without consulting petrol pump owners, saying dealers play a vital role in the country’s fuel supply chain and should be included in policymaking.
Association leader Noman Ali Butt also confirmed that negotiations ended without a breakthrough, leaving both sides deadlocked over the proposed pricing mechanism.
Under the government’s proposed system, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) would announce ex-depot prices of petrol and high-speed diesel every day based on the average international market prices recorded over the previous seven days.
Prices announced for Saturdays and Sundays would remain unchanged.
With negotiations failing to bridge differences, petrol pump owners say the nationwide shutdown will go ahead unless the government revisits the policy and addresses dealers’ concerns, raising fears of fuel supply disruptions across the country.
