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RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Petroleum retailers have criticised the government's decision to increase POL products prices, just a week ahead of OPEC moot which is expected to ease international prices significantly.

Abdul Sami Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), in a press statement on Tuesday said the products had now become inaccessible due to rapid increase in prices.

He further said, "we the petroleum dealers are extending our full cooperation to the government (to prevent increase in the POL products) and even withdrew the service charges which we were getting since 1993." He recalled the PPDA December 15 agreement with the government which was signed by both parties amidst promises of increasing the dealer's commission by the minister and secretary, petroleum and natural resources. In contrast to these promises, the dealer's commission declined as and when the POL products prices were increased by the government, he said, and the margin of commission declined to only 1.75 percent from seven percent in 1963.

He observed that the government should have waited for the OPEC decision, on March 27, after which sufficient price cut was expected.

The PPDA reminded the authorities of its managing committee' decision to convene an all Pakistan moot if no appropriate increase was made in the dealer's commission.