Petroleum dealers threaten one-day closure

Petroleum dealers in the country have threatened to close business for one day if the government does not restore their old commission on petroleum products sale.
This was stated by Chairman All Pakistan Vigilance Petroleum Dealers Foundation Syed Zia Abbas while talking to reporters here on Sunday, after presiding an emergency meeting of its members in Karachi.
He said the recent decision to reduce commission charges of petroleum dealers has made it "extremely difficult for them to carry on business across the country. We cannot meet the high overhead expenses now."
"A large number of our customers have shifted to CNG instead of using petrol. Moreover the selling of sub-standard smuggled petroleum products at less price continues at illegal pumps greatly affecting business of registered dealers in the country," he added.
Syed Zia Abbas stated that instead of a crackdown on illegal pumps business, the commission of registered petroleum dealers who pay large amount of taxes to the government had been arbitrarily reduced.
He said it had become very difficult for registered dealers to carry on their business and demanded that old commission should be restored without any further delay.