September 13, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 30, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 12: Petroleum dealers have said that they are still considering three options like going for another indefinite strike, imposing service charge and knocking the doors of the Supreme Court in case the decision of cutting their margins is not reversed.

Addressing a press conference at a petrol pump on Wednesday chairman Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Abdul Sami Khan said the three options were discussed at the general body meeting held in Lahore.

He said that dealers were compelled to go on indefinite strike on August 31, but it seems that the government had not realized their problems after reducing the margins.

He said the expenditures for running a petrol station continue to go up.

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association chairman said that a proposal was considered in the general body meeting to initially start “self service” at the petrol pumps but majority of the dealers rejected the idea saying it would lead to unemployment of 200,000 people all over the country.

Sami Khan said that the association members from all parts of the country had met the petroleum ministry officials on September 1, in which the government had assured the dealers of resolving various issues, especially the dealers’ margin.