Govt Gets 3 Days to Prevent Another Fuel Strike

Pakistan’s oil tanker owners and contractors have given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to address their long-standing demands, or they will launch a nationwide wheel-jam strike if no action is taken.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Karachi, representatives of oil tanker associations said the proposed strike would be the responsibility of the Petroleum Division and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

They demanded an increase in freight rates, a reduction in the White Oil Pipeline’s transportation quota, and an immediate end to commercial loading through the pipeline.

All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association Chairman Abidullah Afridi said freight rates have remained unchanged for the past three years despite a 180 percent increase in motorway and National Highway Authority toll taxes. He said transport charges should be revised in line with higher toll costs.

Association leaders also claimed that negotiations with the government had continued for more than a year without progress. They alleged that a larger share of petroleum products is being transported through the White Oil Pipeline than originally allocated, leaving tanker operators with fewer trips and threatening the viability of their businesses.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched an indefinite strike in support of its demands, resulting in the closure of many fuel stations across the province.

The strike has affected petrol pumps in several districts, including Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral, Bajaur, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, and Buner, disrupting fuel supplies and creating difficulties for motorists and public transport services.

The association is demanding an end to the daily fuel pricing mechanism and an increase in dealers’ margins, which it says have remained unchanged for the past eight years. It has vowed to continue the protest until the government begins negotiations and addresses its concerns.