Islamabad, July 22, 2026: The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) on Wednesday called off its planned nationwide strike after successful negotiations with the federal government, with the Petroleum Dealers Association also endorsing the decision.
Petrol pump owners and dealers had earlier announced a 24-hour nationwide shutdown from Thursday in protest against the government’s decision to introduce a daily petroleum pricing mechanism.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, representatives of the petroleum sector said the government had assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
The dealers said the government had agreed in principle to increase petroleum dealers’ margins and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved within the next two weeks.
APPPOA Information Secretary Nadeem Khan said the strike was postponed after the government assured stakeholders that their demands would be met. He said petrol pump owners expected the issue of dealer commissions to be settled within two weeks, while the proposed daily fuel pricing mechanism would be implemented on a trial basis during the same period.
Addressing the press conference, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government had committed to resolving the concerns of petrol pump owners and dealers within two weeks and would hold further consultations if any issues remained outstanding.
He said a summary regarding the proposed increase in dealers’ margins would be presented to the federal cabinet, while the daily pricing mechanism would be reviewed with petroleum sector organisations after the completion of the trial period.
The minister said the government was committed to ensuring transparency in petroleum pricing and preventing any perception of unjustified profiteering. He added that fuel prices had been adjusted in line with international market trends and any benefit arising under the pricing formula would be passed on to consumers promptly and transparently.
Malik said the government had provided targeted subsidies worth billions of rupees since February 28 and had developed a targeted subsidy mechanism to support consumers. He also acknowledged the cooperation of petroleum dealers and other stakeholders in implementing the system effectively.
Referring to broader challenges, the minister said volatility in global petroleum prices remained a major concern, particularly amid heightened regional tensions. He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the interior minister and the foreign minister were actively engaged in efforts to maintain regional stability and support ceasefire initiatives.
Malik added that the government would continue working within available fiscal space and existing agreements while engaging with stakeholders to address challenges facing the petroleum sector.
