Petroleum dealers cancel March 4 strike following negotiations with govt

(Web Desk): The All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (APPDA) called off its planned strike for March 4 after successful talks with the federal government about the deregulation policy.

The APPDA reached an agreement with Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, and a spokesperson confirmed the withdrawal of the strike. The association and the government agreed that petroleum dealers would be involved in the process of deregulating the petroleum sector.

APPDA spokesperson Noman Ali Butt told reporters that the negotiations were successful. He added that the petroleum minister assured them the deregulation would not affect dealers' profit margins. The minister also promised to take action against the smuggling of oil from Iran.

Last month, the petroleum minister announced plans for a deregulation policy, which would allow oil marketing companies (OMCs) to set their own fuel prices. In response, the APPDA threatened to hold a nationwide strike, expressing concerns that the plan could lead to foreign control over the local oil market.

The APPDA had given the government until March 4 to address its concerns, saying it had been excluded from discussions on deregulation. However, the chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) downplayed the strike threat, calling it a misunderstanding. He explained that dealers were worried oil companies might reduce their profit margins under the new deregulation policy.