The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) has announced a nationwide shutdown of petrol pumps starting Wednesday night after negotiations with the government failed to resolve differences over the new daily fuel pricing system.
APPPOA General Secretary Nauman Butt said the association rejected the government’s decision to introduce daily changes in petroleum product prices. He confirmed that petrol pumps across the country would close in protest.
He said, “We cannot accept daily changes in petroleum product prices under any circumstances.”
Butt also confirmed that discussions with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik ended without reaching an agreement.
Government Defends Daily Pricing Mechanism
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) currently updates petroleum prices daily on its website. The government says the system improves transparency and allows fuel prices to reflect changes in international markets more quickly.
According to the Petroleum Ministry, authorities calculate daily prices using the average international market rates recorded over the previous seven days.
Officials believe the new mechanism aligns Pakistan’s fuel pricing system with international standards.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) announced that its executive body would meet on Wednesday to decide whether it would also join the protest.
Government Assures Dealers of Further Discussions
Officials from the Petroleum Division said the petroleum minister listened to the concerns raised by petrol pump owners during the meeting.
According to sources, the minister assured dealers that the government would also review their profit margins while implementing the new pricing mechanism.
Authorities said the new system aims to improve transparency without disrupting fuel supplies. They also stated that the government remains open to considering practical proposals from industry stakeholders.
New Pricing Framework Introduced
Under the revised policy, OGRA will announce daily ex-depot prices for petrol and high-speed diesel without requiring prior approval from the prime minister or the federal government.
However, prices announced on Fridays will remain unchanged during Saturdays and Sundays.
The new framework also states that the petroleum levy cannot exceed the limit approved by the federal cabinet. Any future changes in the levy will require approval from the Finance Division.
For the 2026-27 fiscal year, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) will exclusively import high-speed diesel. Meanwhile, oil marketing companies will continue importing petrol according to their market shares.
The government has also decided to introduce daily pricing for kerosene oil and light diesel oil as part of the updated fuel pricing system.
