ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Petroleum dealers have announced a countrywide strike on July 5 (Friday) against the imposition of advance tax in the budget for 2024-25.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Samad Khan made the announcement at a press conference, stating that all filling stations would observe shutdown across the country if the decision is not reversed by the government.
It is feared that there will be no availability of petrol and diesel in the country on Friday. It could disrupt transportation services in the country as they depend on these petroleum products to operate. Khan expressed concerns over the 0.5 percent advance turnover tax included in the Finance Bill 2024-25.
He said it would make it impossible for petrol pumps to operate. He asked the government to abolish it immediately otherwise “we are left with no option but to shutdown operations.”
The Finance Bill 2024-25, which was prepared under the watch of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was approved by the National Assembly in late June.
The association said on Wednesday its talks with the provincial and federal governments failed and the dealers would keep their operations shut on Friday.
“They asked us to call off strike and promised to resolve the issue but we cannot postpone the strike on mere assurances,” the PPDA chairman said.
Khan said the association had meetings with top officials including those of oil marketing companies’ advisory council but the issues persist.
He said 13,000 petrol stations would be closed from July 5 at 6am onward and the strike could continue over the following days unless demands were met and notified.
He asked the owners and operators of retail outlets to keep their stocks for July 4.
Meanwhile, media reports say the petroleum division has set up a monitoring cell to oversee the fuel supply position and coordinate with stakeholders during the strike call of petroleum dealers.
The representatives of oil marketing companies, Ogra and petroleum division have appointed focal persons for the monitoring cell.
The FBR chairman had earlier assured the dealers that the turnover tax would be withdrawn but the petroleum secretary says legislation is required to reverse the process.