Following a nationwide wheel-jam strike by goods transporters, petroleum dealers have announced that they will shut down fuel stations across the country from August 15.
Speaking at a press conference alongside other office-bearers, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said petrol pumps would remain closed indefinitely from 6 am on August 15.
He said the decision was taken after a meeting of petroleum dealers from across the country.
Khuda Bakhsh said the association had given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to address their demands.
He warned that dealers would not be able to continue operating their businesses if their demands were not accepted.
The dealers are demanding an increase in their margin on petroleum products to 8 per cent.
Khuda Bakhsh said their patience had run out and that pressure from the association’s 14,000 members had forced them to make the decision.
Read more: Deadlock persists as Goods Transporters continue strike
He said the government had previously been given two weeks to resolve the dealers’ concerns, but the deadline had expired without any progress.
According to him, the association had even postponed its earlier strike as a goodwill gesture, believing that the government was serious about resolving the issue.
Khuda Bakhsh highlighted the daily determination of petroleum prices as another major concern, saying the current system was exhausting dealers’ working capital.
He expressed hope that the government might call the association for talks and resolve the issues before the planned strike.
Vice Chairman Haji Ameer Khan said the earlier strike had been postponed as a gesture of goodwill.
He added that the association would welcome the participation of petrol pump owners in the protest, questioning why the government was limiting representation in its committee to members of parliament.