The Petroleum Dealers Association (PDA) threatened to shut down all filling stations across the country from tomorrow if their demand for enhancing profit margin will not be fulfilled.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, PDA Chairman Sami Khan warned to shut down 12,000 filling stations across the country and said that it is not possible to work on the current margin.

Talking to the media on Tuesday, the PDA chairman said an emergency meeting of petroleum dealers has been called in Lahore on Wednesday, July 12 in which they will make a final decision of shutting down the filling stations.

PDA Chairman Sami said the demands from the government will also be finalized in the association's Lahore meeting tomorrow.

He said due to increases in electricity, employee salaries, interest rates, taxes and other expenses, it is impossible to operate on current margins.

Sami Khan further said that the sales of dealers have already decreased by 40 per cent due to the sale of smuggled petrol and diesel at low prices in different areas of the country.

The PDA chairman said there are currently 12,000 outlets across the country and it is better for them to stop working than to work on existing low margins.

He demanded the government that the margin of 5 per cent should be restored for the petroleum dealers.

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