The All Pakistan Petroleum Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) has decided to postpone its scheduled nationwide strike for a period of two weeks following successful negotiations with the Petroleum Minister.
The association had previously called for a country-wide protest starting Wednesday night after discussions with the government regarding daily petroleum pricing reached an impasse.
Speaking to the press, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik stated that following a subsequent round of talks with the APPPOA, it was agreed to defer the strike. The government has provided assurances to stakeholders that their specific grievances will be addressed within the next fortnight.
“Since February 28, the government has allocated approximately Rs100 billion to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs and has implemented a subsidy program aimed at supporting the most vulnerable members of society,” Malik noted, referencing government measures taken in response to geopolitical tensions between Iran and the US.
“As regional tensions escalate, fuel prices continue to rise,” Malik observed, adding that during his discussions with APPPOA officials, the association expressed support for the government’s current efforts.
The Minister further noted that the nation’s senior civil and military leadership is currently engaging with Iranian and US officials to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Addressing the specific concerns of fuel station owners, the Minister stated that the issue of dealer margins would be resolved through comprehensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders, and a formal summary would be submitted to the federal cabinet for review.
Additionally, the government intends to review the daily fuel pricing mechanism alongside petroleum sector stakeholders in two weeks.
Last week, the Minister announced a shift to daily fuel price adjustments to account for international market volatility caused by renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.
During the briefing, Malik announced that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will begin publishing fuel prices on its official website, including a breakdown provided in Urdu to ensure transparency.