The Oil Tanker Contractors Association postponed its strike in protest against the implementation of 16% services sales tax till today (Monday) after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources assured them to address their issues.
"The ministry's director general (oil) Abdul Jabbar Memon has assured us that our concerns will be sorted out," said Suleman Tareen, chairman of the association, announcing the postponement of the strike till Monday.
Thousands of fuel stations, mostly in upcountry, are feared to face shortage of petroleum products after a couple of associations of oil tanker owners and operators went on a wheel-jam strike to protest against imposition of 16% sales tax.
The sales tax had been imposed months ago in the current fiscal year, but its collection was put off to avoid any oil crisis in the country.
Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the largest oil marketing company with market share of over 50%, announced in a statement that "the company is striving hard to ensure the continued supply of petroleum products across the country without any hitches."
"Though the strike is not against PSO and the company has no stake in the matter, PSO's supply chain is highly vigilant of the situation," it said.