Pakistan Oil Tanker and Contractors Association have announced a countrywide strike. The association took this step protesting against high toll taxes, hike in income tax, and provincial services. The body has called for the indefinite strike.
Association’s Stance:
Abidullah Afridi, President of Oil Tankers Association, said that the government has failed to resolve their issues; henceforth, the nationwide supply of oil will be cut in protest. “Our drivers and contractors worked around the clock and continued to supply oil across the country despite nationwide COVID-19 lockdown,” Afridi said.
The official announcement from the association came yesterday after a hike in income tax. “There is no business; still the government has increased income tax,” Afridi further stated, adding that strike could continue for an infinite period if the government does not retract the hike in taxes.
The association has called for a meeting of its officer-bearers on July 20 to discuss the current issue.
Oil Shortage:
It is pertinent to mention that the country had faced a shortage of fuel last month. People were seen in long ques waiting for petrol in all cities of the country. Later, OGRA blamed Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for halting supply to petrol pumps and storing the fuel. The government body imposed a penalty of Rs40 million on six OMCs. The regulatory body fined Total Parco and Shell with Rs 10 million each, while imposed a penalty of Rs5 million each on Attock, Go, Hascol and Puma Energy. “
Furthermore, OGRA issued a show-cause notice to three new OMCs, including Askar, Byco, and BE Energy, for license violations.
Furthermore, a federal fuel committee, investigating the recent oil crisis in Pakistan, found nine Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) guilty for hoarding. The committee, headed by Director General Oil Shafiur Rehman Afridi, blamed Total Parco, Shell Pakistan, Gas, and Oil Pakistan, Byco, Attock Oil Pakistan, Attock Petroleum, Be Energy, Puma Energy and Hascol Petroleum for this crisis.
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