ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) on Friday withdrew its nationwide strike call after the federal government agreed to suspend the daily petroleum price adjustment mechanism and review the dealers’ demands.
Following the announcement, petrol stations across the country resumed normal operations, averting the planned 15-day shutdown.
PPDA President Humayun Khan said the government had agreed to reconsider the system of daily changes in petroleum product prices and temporarily suspend its implementation.
He added that the government would issue a summary on petroleum dealers’ profit margins within 15 days.
We are thankful to the government for understanding our difficulties,” Khan said, adding that the strike call had been withdrawn after authorities agreed to consider the dealers’ legitimate demands.
The association had earlier announced a nationwide strike in protest against the government’s decision to introduce daily revisions in petroleum prices.
The development comes a day after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) increased petrol and high-speed diesel prices for the fourth consecutive day.
According to an OGRA notification, petrol prices were raised by Rs4.40 per litre to Rs331.52 per litre, while high-speed diesel became costlier by Rs3.62 per litre, reaching Rs378.66 per litre.
Separately, Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman rejected the government’s daily fuel pricing mechanism and announced a nationwide protest campaign starting August 7.
