KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to fulfil promises made by the petroleum minister to resolve the dealers’ issues.
Speaking at a press conference, PPDA Chairperson Malik Khuda Bakhsh, along with Vice Chairperson Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal, Malik Sher Khan, Sindh Region President Haji Ameer Khan, Karachi President Saeed Khan and other office-bearers, said petroleum dealers will be unable to continue their businesses if the government failed to accept their demands.
Bakhsh said that following a meeting of dealers from across the country, it has been unanimously decided to demand an 8.0 per cent margin on petrol. He said the dealers’ patience has run out, with more than 14,000 members pressing the association to take action.
He warned that if the government fails to meet their demands within 72 hours, petrol pumps across the country will shut indefinitely from 6am on Saturday (August 15). He added that the businesses will remain closed until their demands are fulfilled.
The PPDA chairperson said the association’s Executive Committee has expressed serious concerns at a recent meeting over the newly introduced “24-hour fuel price change mechanism”, calling it impractical and harmful to the routine operations of petrol pumps. Members unanimously maintained that the current system is creating administrative difficulties and financial uncertainty for petroleum dealers.
Bakhsh reiterated the demand that dealers’ commission be fixed at a minimum of 8.0 per cent of the retail sale price, saying the existing commission is insufficient to cover rising inflation, electricity and gas costs, employees’ salaries and other operating expenses.
Earlier, the PPDA Executive Committee has also strongly criticised the ‘Company Allocation Policy’, describing it as discriminatory and contrary to the business interests of dealers. The association demanded that the policy be reviewed immediately and made transparent and fair.
Bakhsh said, “We are giving the government a final 72-hour deadline to resolve our issues. If our legitimate demands are not addressed within this period, we will have no option but to shut down fuel stations across the country.”
