Islamabad: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has convened an emergency meeting after the expiry of a 15-day deadline given to the Ministry of Petroleum to address its demands.
The association will consider the option of a nationwide strike and the closure of petrol stations.
According to the PPDA, the emergency meeting will be held on Monday, 10 August, to review the current situation and determine its future course of action if no progress has been made on the issues raised with the government.
The association said the meeting will also consider the possibility of shutting down petrol stations across the country as part of a nationwide protest. The PPDA has sent an urgent letter to Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, calling for immediate action to resolve the problems faced by petroleum dealers.
PPDA Vice Chairman Anwar Kamal said that daily changes in petroleum product prices had placed dealers under severe financial pressure. He explained that frequent price revisions were causing losses on existing fuel stocks while also placing significant strain on the working capital required to operate their businesses.
He added that the current situation was making it increasingly difficult, particularly for small and medium-sized petroleum dealers, to continue their operations. He warned that if the government failed to introduce a practical solution, the nationwide supply of petroleum products could be disrupted.
Anwar Kamal stressed that petroleum dealers were not seeking confrontation with the government but wanted a practical and sustainable resolution to their concerns. He urged the government to take immediate steps to address the industry’s grievances and prevent the need for strike action or the closure of petrol stations.
The PPDA’s emergency meeting is expected to make key decisions regarding negotiations with the government, progress on its demands and the association’s future strategy.
