Oil Tankers Association to observe countrywide strike from Nov 13

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association (APOTA) has announced to observe strike across the country from November 13 (Monday), disrupting the countrywide fuel supply to filling stations.

According to APOTA chairman Yousuf Shahwani, Petroleum Division Pakistan and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) were dragging their heels and not implementing a decision with regard to increase in transportation fares.

In a statement, Shahwani asserted that both parties had reached a decision that the transportation fares would be increased by 20 per cent from November 1, but the authorities were failed to implement the hike in fares.

He said the APOTA’s ‘just demands’ were approved during several rounds of negotiations between members of APOTA and the OGRA earlier, but  an increase in freight fares is yet to be implemented.

It is apropos to highlight here that the association has been in tug of war with OGRA, Highway Authorities over several issues including transportation fares and foul attitude towards Oil tankers.

Earlier this month, the federal government had revised prices of all petroleum products upward for the month of November.

A notification of the petroleum ministry said the fuel prices have been increased to keep up the trend of hike in crude oil prices in the global market.

The petroleum ministry enhanced the price of light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs three per litre and that of kerosene oil by Rs 5.19 per litre. The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has been hiked by Rs 5.19 per litre and petrol by Rs 2.49 per litre, the government announced.