How Will Payments Be Reimbursed? The Government Did Not Take Us Into Confidence – Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal, Ameer Khan, Saeed Khan
Karachi (September 16, 2026):
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers have refused to implement the government’s relief package and have demanded consultation with PPDA leadership, as well as a clear mechanism for payment of the petrol supplied under the scheme.
Chairman PPDA Malik Khuda Bakhsh, while addressing an emergency press conference on Wednesday along with Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal, Sindh President Ameer Khan, and Karachi President Saeed Khan, stated that petrol cannot be sold under the government’s announced relief package at Rs. 100 less per litre.
He warned that if the government resorts to coercion, petrol pumps across the country will be shut down. He added that if the government wants to provide relief, it should do so from its own funds instead of tying up dealers’ money. He also rejected the proposed “smart lockdown” by the government.
Rejecting the federal government’s petrol relief package, Malik Khuda Bakhsh said that dealers were not taken into confidence before announcing the package. He questioned how their payments would be reimbursed, adding that previous promises were not fulfilled, which is why dealers are unwilling to provide petrol on credit.
Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan said that dealers have been trying to contact the government for the past three days, but whenever the government wants to enforce something, it stops communication. He stated that there are around 14,000 dealers across the country, and from tonight, they will not sell petrol under the relief package.
According to the dealers, the issue could be resolved if the government allows oil marketing companies to directly import petroleum products.
Anwar Kamal said that if the scheme is to be successful, the government must negotiate with dealers, as the current procedure makes it commercially unviable. He added that the government should adopt a simpler method—similar to those used by previous governments—to provide relief to the public without placing an additional financial burden on petroleum dealers.
The leaders of petroleum dealers further stated that if billions of rupees remain tied up for a long period under this scheme, who will compensate for the financial losses? They demanded a clear policy from the government on this issue; otherwise, all 14,000 dealers across the country could be adversely affected.
