Petrol pump owners across Pakistan have announced a nationwide strike after talks with the government failed over the proposed daily fuel pricing mechanism.
The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) said fuel stations nationwide will close from Wednesday night. The group argues that the new pricing model is impractical and will hurt dealers.
APPPOA General Secretary Nauman Butt said the association rejected the proposal because daily fuel price changes would confuse both businesses and customers.
Talks with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik ended without an agreement. As a result, the association decided to launch a nationwide protest.
Government Defends Daily Fuel Pricing
The government says the new pricing system will improve transparency by reflecting global fuel prices more quickly.
Under the proposal, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will calculate petrol and diesel prices using the average international rates from the previous seven days.
Officials believe the system will make fuel pricing more responsive to changes in global energy markets.
Dealers Yet to Reach Final Decision
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has not announced whether it will join the strike.
The association plans to make its final decision on Wednesday after consulting its members.
Government Offers Further Talks
Officials from the Petroleum Division say they remain willing to negotiate with fuel dealers.
They also promised to review concerns about dealer profit margins. Furthermore, they assured the public that fuel supplies will continue without interruption during the dispute.
New Policy Changes Fuel Imports
The proposed framework allows OGRA to issue daily ex-depot prices without approval from the prime minister or the federal cabinet.
However, prices announced on Fridays will remain unchanged throughout Saturday and Sunday.
The government also introduced new fuel import rules for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) will become the only importer of high-speed diesel. Meanwhile, oil marketing companies will continue importing petrol according to their market shares.
Companies that fail to meet import targets could lose import approvals for up to nine months.
Dealers Seek Policy Review
Government officials say these reforms will modernise Pakistan’s petroleum pricing system. They also believe the policy will improve transparency and align local fuel prices with international market trends.
However, petrol pump owners insist the government should review the proposal before introducing the new pricing mechanism.
