Oil tanker owners warn of countrywide strike

The government must cancel increase in petroleum product prices, warn oil tanker operators.

KARACHI: The government must cancel the latest increase in petroleum product prices within seven days or prepare to face the consequences, warned oil tanker operators.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association Chairman Mir Mohammad Yousuf Shahwani urged the government to withdraw the latest round of price increase for high-speed diesel within seven days. “If the government does not pay heed to our demands, thousands of oil tankers all over the country will stop supplying fuel to oil marketing companies, grid stations, sea ports, airports and petrol stations,” said Shahwani.

He stressed that the association is not interested in negotiating higher rental rates for tankers, adding “our only agenda is to have fuel prices reduced.” “About 75,000 oil tankers are registered with the association,” said Vice President of the oil tankers body, Shams Shahwani, adding “most of the fuel supplies to Nato are also sent through these tankers.”

He warned that if the government did not give in to the demands of oil tanker owners, Nato supplies will also be completely stopped.

Oil tanker owners are the latest group to jump on the protesters bandwagon after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority announced a hefty increase in fuel prices. High-speed diesel has become dearer by Rs4.25 taking its price to Rs82.58 per litre while petrol price has jumped by Rs6.71 to Rs79.67 per liter.

Earlier, the Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI), an umbrella organisation representing owners of public transport services, also slammed the fuel price hike. During a press conference on Saturday, KTI Chairman Irshad Bokhari warned that transporters may go on strike and increase fares in line with the latest surge in prices of diesel.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2011.