Petrol pump owners threaten nationwide shutdown

The All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) on Wednesday warned of a countrywide closure of petrol pumps if urgent concerns surrounding the petroleum industry are not addressed by the government. In a letter sent to Power Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, the association’s Vice Chairman Nouman Ali Butt called for an immediate meeting to discuss the pressing issues facing petrol pump owners. "We would like to have a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss and address the concerns of almost 14,000–15,000 petrol pump owners that need immediate attention," Butt said in the letter. "In case we are unheard, we would be compelled to shut down the business, which would add another fuel crisis in Pakistan." The letter highlighted a series of ongoing challenges, including operations, finances, pricing, and the sudden situational changes stemming from force majeure events. Butt stressed that the association had no intention of creating a new fuel crisis amid the current energy and fuel shortages exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East. However, he warned that if the situation remained unaddressed, the entire responsibility for the ensuing crisis would lie with the government. The letter also pointed out the lack of consultation with industry stakeholders when key decisions affecting the sector are made. Butt urged that the concerns of petrol pump owners be taken into account in future policymaking. Also Read: PM Shehbaz says rejected advice to further raise fuel prices Three weeks ago, the government sharply increased diesel and petrol prices by Rs55 per litre or 20% — due to the ongoing US-Israel and Iran war, which has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to two years’ highest level. The increase in petrol prices was more than the surge in the international market, as the government chose to collect more money than required from motorcyclists and car owners to subsidise the use of diesel, mostly by the public transport and the agriculture sector. Both federal and provincial governments have since introduced a range of austerity steps, including an additional weekly holiday, cutting free petrol allocations for ministers, limiting protocol vehicles, and proposing subsidised fuel for students.