Islamabad (NEWS Reporter) – The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has rejected the government’s newly introduced deregulation policy, calling it a unilateral decision. The association’s leaders have given the government a 10-day deadline to address their concerns and accept their demands. If the demands are not met, they have warned of a complete shutdown of oil tankers and petrol pumps across the country on March 4.
During an emergency press conference held at the Islamabad Press Club, the association’s officials termed the government’s decision as unjust. Representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir were also present at the conference.
Representing Punjab, Khawaja Atif stated that petroleum dealers are a crucial pillar of the industry, and no policy can be implemented without their consultation.
He condemned the government’s unilateral approach and emphasized that any decision made without the dealers’ input would not be accepted.
Another association leader, Nauman Ali Butt, criticized the deregulation decision, stating that it was made behind closed doors without consulting over 15,000 petrol pump dealers and other stakeholders. He further warned that this policy would promote the sale of cheap Iranian petrol, which could lead to an increase in substandard fuel being sold in the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Gul Nawaz Khan Afridi urged the government to reconsider the policy and take the concerns of dealers into account. Senior leader Ahmad Shinwari also opposed the decision, stressing that the government should act wisely, as this policy would create challenges for local dealers.
All the leaders collectively issued a 10-day ultimatum to the government, warning that if their demands were not met within this period, petroleum dealers would shut down petrol pumps and oil tankers nationwide on March 4.
