Petroleum Dealers, Govt Talks Fail as Saturday Strike Looms
**ISLAMABAD:** Talks between the government and the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) ended without an agreement on Today, leaving a deadlock over the dealers’ planned strike.
According to Energy Update Sources, A five-hour meeting between a PPDA delegation and officials of the Petroleum Ministry failed to resolve the key differences, particularly over the government’s proposed move to determine petroleum product prices on a daily basis.
The dealers have demanded withdrawal of the daily pricing mechanism, maintaining that the decision could create uncertainty for the petroleum retail sector. However, the government has so far refused to withdraw the proposal.
According to sources, the government offered to increase the petroleum dealers’ margin by **Rs1.34 per litre**. However, implementation of the proposed increase would require approval from the federal cabinet.
During the talks, the petroleum minister also expressed displeasure over the PPDA’s 72-hour ultimatum and its decision to proceed with strike preparations.
With negotiations failing to produce a breakthrough, the PPDA delegation decided to return to Karachi, where an emergency meeting of the association’s Executive Committee has been convened to discuss the situation and determine the next course of action.
The PPDA has reiterated that its members remain committed to their decision to **close petrol pumps and begin a strike on Saturday morning**, unless an agreement is reached with the government.
The potential strike could disrupt fuel supplies across the country, raising concerns about availability of petrol and diesel at filling stations if the dispute remains unresolved.
