Citizens suffer as Pakistan petrol stations observe countrywide strike

Lahore: Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) on Thursday has gone on strike across the country to protest selling petrol "on low-profit margins", adding that the strike could continue for an "unspecified period", starting today (Thursday) — effective from 6:00 am in the morning. 

Chairman PPDA said, "The association will observe indefinite strike by suspending the supply from its petrol pumps from November 25, across the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu, and Kashmir."

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Petroleum said all the petrol pumps of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Shell, TOTAL, and other companies across the country will remain open.

Earlier, long queues of vehicles have been seen at petrol pumps across the country as PPDA's call for a nationwide strike and closure of fuel stations.

As per PPDA, petroleum dealers in Pakistan will go on a nationwide strike today—accusing the Imran Khan-led government of failing to increase the profit margin.

Despite a nationwide strike, petrol pump owners announced that only ambulances will be able to get petrol from Thursday.

It is pertinent to remember that the association had called for a strike on November 5, too, but withdrew the call after the government agreed to increase the margin by 6 percent on the sale of petroleum products within a few days.