The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has given the federal government 72 hours to address its demands over petroleum pricing.
The association has warned that dealers may struggle to continue operating petrol pumps if the government does not resolve the dispute.
The latest ultimatum comes just two days after the petroleum minister promised that the dealers would receive good news.
However, tensions in the petroleum sector have continued to grow over the proposed daily pricing formula.
Dealers Challenge Daily Petroleum Pricing
Petroleum dealers have strongly opposed the proposed system for changing petroleum product prices every day.
Association leader Malik Khuda Bakhsh said daily price changes were “not acceptable” and urged the government to reconsider the proposed mechanism.
Dealers argue that frequent price adjustments create difficulties for pump owners, particularly when managing their stocks and finances.
According to critics, even weekly price revisions have created uncertainty for businesses operating in the petroleum sector.
Economic experts have also cautioned that volatility in global markets can make daily price adjustments difficult to manage.
Meanwhile, consumers continue to face concerns over high petrol and diesel prices.
Despite repeated government claims about difficult economic decisions, petroleum prices remain significantly higher than their pre-war levels.
As a result, consumers continue to wait for meaningful relief while the dispute between dealers and the government develops.
Dealers Demand Higher Margin
Alongside their concerns about daily pricing, petroleum dealers have also presented specific demands to the government.
The association has called for the dealers’ margin on petrol to be increased to 8 percent.
It has also demanded the abolition of allocations imposed on dealers by oil companies.
Khuda Bakhsh said dealers had reached the limit of their patience amid the ongoing dispute.
“The patience of the dealers has run out,” he declared.
He added that the association remained in contact with the government, although no final decision had been reached.
72-Hour Deadline Issued
The association decided to issue the ultimatum during a meeting of its executive committee.
Dealers from different parts of the country attended the meeting and discussed the ongoing concerns facing the sector.
Following the meeting, the committee resolved to give the government 72 hours to accept its demands.
The association has warned that dealers could become unable to continue operations at petrol pumps if their demands remain unresolved.
The warning therefore places fresh pressure on the government to address the pricing dispute before the deadline expires.
For now, petroleum dealers remain engaged with government officials, while the industry waits for a response to their demands.
