Petroleum Dealers Hint at Nationwide Petrol Pump Shutdown Over Margin Dispute

Karachi: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has rejected the government’s proposed profit margin and warned of a potential nationwide shutdown of petrol pumps if their demands are not met.

PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan stated that the association had requested an 8% dealer margin, insisting that operating under the current margin is no longer feasible. “We asked the government for an 8% margin. It is impossible to continue working without it,” he said.

He warned that if the government fails to increase the dealer margin to 8%, petrol pumps across the country would be closed. The association has given the government a 10-day deadline. After this period, the PPDA’s core committee will meet to announce a final decision.

Abdul Sami Khan explained that dealers are currently receiving a margin of 3.12%, which he termed insufficient. He urged the government to provide a written assurance for raising the margin to 8%. He added that the government could even implement the increase in installments if needed.

The association’s warning has raised concerns about potential fuel shortages if negotiations fail in the coming days.