Just as Pakistan prepares to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a new crisis is brewing that could leave millions of people without fuel. The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has announced a complete nationwide shutdown of petrol pumps starting March 27, and the country is watching with growing anxiety.
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has warned that petrol pumps across the country will shut down indefinitely from March 27 if the government fails to increase the dealers’ margin to 8 per cent. PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that dealers were promised an eight per cent margin by the government, but due to rising petroleum product prices, the margin has now dropped to just 2.68 per cent, making it impossible for pump owners to continue business.
Association leaders accused the government of raising petroleum prices in a way that benefits oil marketing companies while completely ignoring the financial concerns of petrol pump dealers. They stated that recent fuel price adjustments have generated billions of rupees in gains for oil marketing companies, but dealers’ profit margins have not been revised at all.
Pakistan has around 12,000 to 14,000 petrol pumps nationwide. The association also expressed concern over supply issues, claiming that oil marketing companies have reduced fuel quotas for petrol pumps by nearly half, creating additional financial pressure for retailers already struggling with rising costs.
If no resolution is reached before March 27, the entire country could face a devastating fuel shortage right after Eid, at a time when millions of families are already stretched thin.
