The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has called an emergency meeting after the 15-day deadline it gave the Petroleum Ministry to address its demands expired, according to reports on Friday.
The meeting will be held on Monday, August 10. The petroleum dealers will discuss the possibility of a nationwide strike and the closure of petrol pumps.
PPDA has also sent an urgent letter to Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, asking for quick action on its demands.
PPDA Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said the daily adjustment in petroleum prices has created serious financial problems for dealers.
He said that the daily price changes are causing losses on fuel already in stock and are affecting their working capital.
Vice Chairman Tariq Hasan said it has become difficult for small and medium-sized petroleum dealers to continue their businesses.
He further warned that if the issues are not resolved, the supply of petroleum products across the country could be affected.
PPDA Vice Chairman Anwar Kamal said the association does not want a conflict with the government.
He said the dealers want a practical solution to their problems and have asked the petroleum minister to personally intervene and make quick decisions.
Petroleum prices in Pakistan
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) announced new petroleum prices yesterday. It lowered the rates of both petrol and high-speed diesel.
According to the official notification, the price of petrol has been reduced by Rs3.19 per litre. The new price is Rs329.82 per litre.
The price of high-speed diesel has also been reduced by Rs1.50 per litre. The new rate is Rs382.36 per litre.
The revised prices came into effect on August 7.
Earlier, the government had increased the price of petrol by Rs4.45 per litre. It also reduced the price of diesel by Rs2 per litre.
Under the daily fuel pricing system, the government had also raised petrol prices by Rs5.44 per litre and high-speed diesel prices by Rs31.50 per litre on July 17 for the next three days. After that increase, petrol was priced at Rs316.15 per litre and diesel at Rs354.35 per litre.