Oil-tankers association calls off strike

ISLAMABAD. All Pakistan Oil Tanker Contractor Association (APOTCA) has called off strike after successful talks with government, here on Friday. Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar announced that the Oil Tankers and Contractors Association called off their strike after successful talks with the Petroleum Division. The strike call by the APOTCA might lead to scarcity of petroleum products in the country as the filling stations would have to obtain their supplies only from the oil marketing companies’ (OMCs) tankers.

The APOTCA wants a 50% quota in white oil pipeline, seeking an even division in the supply of petroleum products, 50% by roads and 50% through the pipeline. The OMCs were supplying 60% diesel supply through pipeline and 40% through roads.

The other demand of the APOTCA was a cut in the tax rate on oil transportation and fixation of queue structure from the current 3% to 2%.

APOTCA Chairman Taj Afridi, in a joint press conference, claimed acceptance of all their demands. He said the tankers had been 100 per cent upgraded so far and all the vehicles on the long route had been upgraded.

Hammad Azhar said all issues had been settled with mutual understanding and “we have created a forum for dialogue to resolve all other issues through discussion”.

He also said that water level in Tarbela dam was very low this year, adding that a few days ago water level in Tarbela was better, but now it had gone low. He said the country would manage gas from June 29 to July 5 to reduce load shedding.

A day earlier, the Oil Tankers and Contractors Association had announced a countrywide strike.