LAHORE (HRNW): The All Pakistan Oil Tanker Contractors Association (APOTCA) has officially announced a nationwide strike following the government’s failure to address their grievances. The association has declared that oil tankers will remain off the roads until their transport fares are revised upward to compensate for the recent surge in fuel costs.
Economic Unviability of Operations
Representatives of the association stated that the record-breaking increase of Rs 184.49 per litre in the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) has made it impossible to operate under existing freight rates.
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Mounting Losses: Transporters highlighted that supplying petroleum products to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and other distant regions is resulting in heavy financial losses.
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Suspension of Supply: According to the official notification, no oil tankers will exit the depots starting tomorrow. This suspension threatens to disrupt the supply of petrol and diesel to filling stations across the country within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Allegations of Official Negligence
APOTCA has accused the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Ministry of Petroleum of systemic injustice and ignoring their legitimate concerns.
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Ignored Correspondence: The association claims to have sent multiple written appeals to the Minister for Petroleum over the last week, none of which have received a response.
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Ultimatum: “We have no choice but to strike,” a spokesperson stated. “Our demands have been consistently overlooked, and we can no longer bear the burden of these operating costs alone.”
Potential Fuel Crisis
The strike comes at a critical time when the country is already reeling from record-high fuel prices and political protests led by Jamaat-e-Islami. If the deadlock between the government and the tanker contractors persists, major urban centers including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad could face a severe fuel shortage, further paralyzing the transport sector.
The association maintains that the strike will continue indefinitely until a formal notification for increased carriage fares is issued by the authorities.
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