ISLAMABAD: After petroleum dealers, oil marketing companies have now pressed the government for an immediate increase in their profit margins, further underscoring the widening unrest in Pakistan’s petroleum sector where citizens remain deprived of any relief in fuel prices and inflation since the Feb 28 US‑Iran war day.
In a letter to the Federal Minister for Petroleum, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) urged that the current margin of Rs7.87 per liter be raised by Rs2.23.
OCAC Secretary General Nazir Abbas Zaidi said the minister had earlier assured an increase of Rs1.22, but stressed that in view of mounting financial and regulatory pressures, a larger adjustment was necessary.
Zaidi noted that multinational investors associated with OCAC were also facing difficulties, warning that rising costs and compliance requirements were making it increasingly difficult for companies to sustain operations at the existing margin.
“The supply system of petroleum products can only remain stable if margins are increased appropriately,” he said.
The council pointed out that oil marketing companies have been demanding a margin hike for the past three years, but no meaningful progress has been made.
It argued that without immediate relief, companies would struggle to meet business expenses, potentially destabilizing the supply chain.
Pakistanis Still Deprived of Relief Since Feb 28 War Day
It is pertinent to mention here that this demand comes on the heels of weeks of turmoil: goods transporters staged a five‑day strike against the disputed daily pricing formula, while petroleum dealers threatened shutdowns before securing a modest margin increase.
Despite government leaders’ repeated claims of playing a “leading role” in international peace politics, ordinary Pakistanis continue to face petrol and diesel prices far above pre‑war levels, with inflationary pressures showing no sign of easing.
