KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Tankers Association and contractors have threatened a nationwide wheel-jam strike if the government fails to address their demands within 72 hours.
The announcement came during a joint press conference in Karachi on Thursday.
The association warned that the Ministry of Petroleum and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) would be responsible for any disruption caused by the strike.
The tanker owners and contractors demanded an increase in the quota for the White Oil Pipeline.
They also called for higher transportation fares, saying existing rates no longer reflect rising operational costs.
Abidullah Afridi said oil tanker fares had remained unchanged for the past three years.
However, he noted that motorway toll taxes had increased by around 180 per cent during the same period.
He demanded that the government revise tanker fares in line with the sharp rise in toll charges.
Tanker Owners Blame Ministry and OGRA for Strike Threat
Afridi said the association had repeatedly raised its concerns with the relevant authorities.
However, he claimed that the Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA had failed to resolve their issues.
Consequently, the association decided to issue a 72-hour ultimatum before launching the proposed nationwide strike.
The threatened wheel-jam strike could disrupt oil transportation and affect fuel supplies across the country.
The association urged the government to take immediate steps to meet its demands and prevent a nationwide shutdown.
It also held the Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA responsible for the situation, warning that the dispute could escalate if authorities failed to act within the given deadline.
