ISLAMABAD: The petroleum dealers association on Wednesday withdraw their protest strike call after a government team agreed to increase their margins on sale of petroleum products by 6 per cent within a few days.

The association had given a countrywide strike call for November 5 against inability of the government to increase their margins for two years. They met the government team led by Energy Minister Hammad Azhar in which the petroleum division agreed to increase the margins by 6pc this month.

The meeting constituted a committee led by petroleum secretary Dr Arshad Mahmood to ensure implementation of the agreement for increase in the margins through approvals from the Economic Coordination Committee and the federal cabinet over the next 10 days.

The government team also included the chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and the director general oil.

The dealers said they were calling off their protest but would go on a strike from Nov 20 if agreed increase in margins was not notified.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2021