Petrol pumps across Pakistan may shut down after Eid as petroleum dealers have warned of a nationwide strike if the government fails to increase their profit margins.
The Petroleum Dealers Association announced that fuel retailers could launch an indefinite strike from March 26, threatening a major disruption in fuel supply across the country.
Association leader Tariq Hassan said the demand to increase dealers’ margins has been raised with authorities several times. He claimed the government had assured dealers nearly two years ago that the issue would be resolved, but no practical steps have been taken so far.
According to dealers, rising operational costs such as electricity bills, staff salaries, and maintenance expenses have made it increasingly difficult to run petrol pumps under the current margin structure. They argue that while petroleum prices have increased sharply in recent years, their profit margins have remained unchanged.
The association also criticized the recent Rs55 per litre increase in petroleum prices. Dealers described the price hike as unfair and demanded a transparent investigation into the matter.
They alleged that oil marketing companies earned billions of rupees following the price increase. Dealers claim some companies stocked large quantities of fuel before the price adjustment, enabling them to benefit financially once the new rates were implemented.
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Petroleum dealers further said that higher fuel prices have increased their purchasing costs, putting additional financial pressure on petrol pump operators already struggling to manage daily expenses.
The association also expressed concern over fuel supply issues. Dealers claim oil marketing companies have reduced fuel quotas for petrol pumps by nearly half, making it harder for retailers to meet consumer demand.
They warned that if the government does not revise the dealer margin policy soon, the planned strike after Eid could severely disrupt fuel supply across Pakistan.
