Petrol Pumps Association Announces Nationwide Shutdown from Tomorrow Night

Islamabad: The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Association has announced that petrol pumps across the country will be closed from tomorrow night after negotiations with the government over the proposed daily fuel pricing mechanism ended without an agreement.

According to the association’s Secretary General, Nauman Butt, talks between the Federal Minister for Petroleum and representatives of petrol pump owners failed to produce a consensus.

The dispute stems from the government’s decision to introduce a daily pricing system for petroleum products in view of the deteriorating regional situation. Under the new mechanism, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will announce fuel prices without requiring prior approval from the Prime Minister or the federal government, while prices announced before the weekend will remain unchanged on Saturdays and Sundays.

The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Association has rejected the petroleum price deregulation policy. Association Chairman Nauman Ali Butt urged the government to review the policy, saying petrol pump owners should not bear the burden of its implementation.

He also called on the government and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to consult all stakeholders before finalizing the pricing mechanism, adding that nearly 15,000 petrol pump owners across Pakistan have expressed serious concerns over the proposed policy.