KARACHI: Oil tanker operators went on a strike on Thursday demanding reduction in recently increased withholding tax (WHT)and 50 per cent share in supply of petroleum products from the oil marketing companies of the White Oil Pipeline (WOP).

Hundreds of oil tankers were seen parked at an oil terminal in Shireen Jinnah Colony after operators suspended the supply of petroleum products across the country.

All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA) spokesman Israr Ahmed Shinwari said the government had recently increased income and WHT to 3.5pc which was “absolutely unacceptable”. He further said that operators were demanding 50pc supply share from the oil marketing companies in WOP which transports imported oil from Port Qasim to Pak-Arab Refinery.

“Otherwise, some 15,000 oil tankers would remain parked and unmoved,” he said. When asked about the possible impact of the strike, he warned that it could lead to shortage of petroleum products at fuel pumps.

“Normally, the fuel stations enjoy stock of two to three days,” the APOTOA spokesman said. “If the authorities do not pay heed and the strike continues, the impact of our protest would start emerging. We used every legal forum and talked every concerned official but we weren’t heard. We were left with no option to go for this extreme step. We are under double edged sword. On one hand the government has increased the taxes and on the other, the oil marketing companies are supplying 60pc of their diesel through the pipeline.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021