The All Pakistan Petroleum Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) has postponed its planned nationwide strike for two weeks after successful negotiations with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, providing relief to consumers who feared fuel supply disruptions across Pakistan.
The association had earlier announced an indefinite strike after talks with the government over the newly introduced daily petroleum pricing mechanism failed. However, following fresh negotiations on Wednesday, both sides agreed to continue discussions, with the government assuring petroleum dealers that their concerns would be addressed within the next fortnight.
Addressing a joint press conference, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government would hold consultations with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and other stakeholders before presenting a summary to the federal cabinet regarding the long-pending issue of dealers’ profit margins.
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Malik said the government had spent around Rs100 billion since February 28 to shield consumers from the impact of soaring global oil prices triggered by regional tensions, adding that fuel prices remain under pressure due to renewed instability in the Middle East.
He also confirmed that Pakistan’s newly introduced daily fuel pricing system would initially operate on a two-week trial basis. After the trial period, the government will review its effectiveness with petroleum dealers and decide whether to continue daily revisions or return to fortnightly or monthly price adjustments.
To improve transparency, OGRA has begun publishing daily petroleum prices on its official website, along with Urdu price breakdowns for the public.
APPPOA Information Secretary Nadeem Aziz Khan welcomed the government’s written assurance, saying the association had postponed its strike after receiving commitments that dealer margins and operational concerns—pending since 2022—would be resolved within two weeks.
The development averts an immediate fuel crisis while giving the government and petroleum dealers time to negotiate a long-term solution on fuel pricing and dealer commissions.
Read More: Petrol Pumps Across Pakistan to Shut From Midnight as Dealers Announce Indefinite Strike