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KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has withdrawn its decision to continue the nationwide strike at petrol pumps with immediate effect, citing major problems faced by tourists in northern areas as the main reason for their sudden change, here on Friday.
As per the details, Chairman Abdul Sami Khan told a press conference held in Karachi along with key officials that the strike, which was originally intended to last for one day, has been successfully suspended. Khan sympathized with the association’s move, especially for the inconvenience caused to motorcyclists.
“Given the plight of stranded tourists in Malakand, Swat and Hazara, the decision to suspend today’s strike was important,” explained Khan. He acknowledged the challenges of sustaining the strike amid significant government opposition.
Despite calling off the strike immediately, Khan stressed that it was not a permanent resolution but a temporary reprieve. He highlighted pressure from District and Assistant Commissioners in Hazara Division, Punjab and Malakand, which forced some dealers to comply.
Khan highlighted scenes of long queues of vehicles in tourist areas, underscoring the need to call off the strike to address the hardships faced by visitors. He warned against a possible increase in illegal sale of petrol during the suspension period and criticized the government for imposing double taxation on the industry.
The chairman announced the expulsion of four more association members, blaming government officials for their unilateral tax decisions. “Earlier, our concerns were always addressed through consultations before budget decisions,” lamented Khan, citing the recent lack of dialogue despite meetings with the finance minister, the FBR chairman, and other officials. pointed out.
He reiterated the association’s determination, including a possible protest in Islamabad if their demands were not met. Khan highlighted the financial pressure on dealers, who are now subject to a 0.5% tax hike, which translates to an average of Rs1 million in additional taxes based on sales. He assured that all transactions of dealers are fully documented.
Earlier, the association called an emergency meeting to strategize its response following the nationwide strike.
Providing context, Khan said there are over 525 petrol pumps in Karachi, of which around 20 are directly run by companies and 30 to 35 are leased to dealers. He stressed that while most dealer-operated pumps were closed during the strike, company-operated stations continued to serve customers. He also pointed out that 3.5 to 4 million litre of petrol and diesel are sold in Karachi every day.
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