Petrol Pump Owners Delay Nationwide Strike

The All Pakistan Petroleum Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) has called off its planned nationwide strike for two weeks after the federal government agreed to review petrol dealers’ margins and reassess the recently introduced daily fuel pricing system.

The association had earlier announced an indefinite shutdown beginning Wednesday night after initial negotiations with the government failed to resolve its concerns regarding daily revisions in petroleum prices.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the strike was postponed following another round of talks, during which the government assured APPPOA that its demands would be examined and addressed within the next two weeks.

He stated that the issue of dealers’ profit margins would be discussed with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and other relevant stakeholders before a summary and progress report are presented to the federal cabinet.

“The issue of dealers’ margins has remained unresolved for several years. A summary and progress report will be submitted to the cabinet so that honest dealers can adequately cover their operating expenses through their margins,” Malik said.

The minister also announced that the daily fuel pricing mechanism would continue on a trial basis for two weeks, after which the government would evaluate its effectiveness and identify any operational challenges.

APPPOA Information Secretary Nadeem Aziz Khan said the government had provided its assurances in writing following detailed discussions with the petroleum minister.

He added that if the new pricing mechanism proves workable, it will continue. However, if significant problems arise, the government may consider restoring the previous monthly or fortnightly fuel price adjustment system.

Khan said the association agreed to postpone the strike based on the minister’s written commitment, maintaining that its long-standing demand for higher dealer margins has remained unresolved since 2022.

Earlier, APPPOA Vice Chairman Nauman Ali Butt had termed the daily fuel pricing mechanism impractical and unacceptable for petrol pump operators, arguing that prices should instead be revised monthly while noting that dealers’ commissions have remained unchanged for the past three years.