Petrol pumps shut down across the country sans Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Nearly 13,000 petrol pumps across the country have shut down early on Friday on the call of Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) in protest against the advance turnover tax.

However, the strike will not be observed in Islamabad due to the death of the vice president of the Petroleum Dealers Association Punjab.

Abdul Sami Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Asso­ciation (PPDA), said that petrol pumps started shut down from 6am on Friday throughout the country.

OMCS DIRECTED TO KEEP OUTLETS OPEN

The oil marketing companies have already been directed to keep their outlets operational during the strike and remain in contact with the Ministry of Energy’s monitoring cell.

A joint statement by Ogra and the petroleum division said that there was sufficient availability of petroleum products in the country, and all OMCs had been advised to ensure adequate supplies at petrol pumps.

PSO ASSURES CONTINUOUS FUEL SUPPLY AMID NATIONWIDE STRIKE

 Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has announced that the supply of petroleum products will be ensured across the country, ARY News reported on Thursday.

PSO has confirmed that its supply chain is fully operational, guaranteeing that petrol pumps will remain stocked despite the strike.

“Continuous supply of petrol at pumps is being ensured,” stated a PSO spokesperson.

PSO reiterated its readiness to serve the public. “PSO is always ready to serve the people,” the spokesperson added.

OGRA directs oil companies to keep petrol pumps open

On the other hand, the petroleum division kept on asking all the six chief secretaries of the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kas­hmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to allow “operation of oil tankers movement” during the day on July 5 to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to the open retail outlets “in case the strike becomes effective”. In normal circumstances, the oil tanker movement is not allowed during daytime.

It also asked the provincial governments to “endeavour/facilitate the opening of maximum petrol pumps and nominate focal persons for close coordination”.