Petroleum dealers reject strike call
There were fears that the petroleum dealers, most of whom were corrupt and involved in fuel hoarding, would not pass on the full benefit of cross-subsidy to the motorbike owners and demand higher prices. PHOTO: afp
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) on Monday rejected the call for a nationwide strike on July 5 by some Karachi-based oil retailers.
Some so-called leaders have unilaterally issued the call on the pretext of additional tax on dealers, which is baseless and deceitful, the PPDA leaders said in a statement.
“How can dealers go on strike when no new tax has been imposed on them in the recent budget?” asked Hassan Shah, a spokesman for the dealers’ association.
He added that the budget had slapped advance income tax on oil marketing companies (OMCs), therefore, they should fight their own battle and stop using the dealers for their own interests.
He said that all petroleum dealers across the country had condemned the call for the nationwide strike on July 5. “We will not blackmail the government; still, we will go to any extent to resolve our legitimate issues,” he remarked.
According to the PPDA spokesman, even after the imposition of this tax, the OMCs are supplying fuel at old rates, as evidenced from the invoices.
“These companies have persuaded some leaders of petroleum dealers to protest because those companies are not able to protest on their own. OMCs should strive to resolve their issues on their own and avoid trying to use the petroleum dealers,” he underlined.