KP petrol pump owners protest frequent price cuts

PESHAWAR: Petrol pump owners in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed resentment over the government’s frequent reductions in petroleum prices, with several outlets suspending fuel sales, causing long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps along various routes.

Najeebullah, spokesperson for the Petroleum Sellers Association, told this correspondent that the government’s practice of revising petroleum prices on a daily basis had created serious financial difficulties for petrol pump owners.

He said pump owners purchased petroleum products at prevailing rates, but prices were subsequently reduced, sometimes during the night, resulting in substantial financial losses running into millions of rupees.

“How long can petrol pump owners continue to absorb such losses?” he questioned, adding that the government should take the sellers’ association into confidence before making decisions regarding petroleum prices.

The association has demanded that petroleum prices should be revised on a monthly basis or, at the very least, once a week instead of daily adjustments.

Najeebullah said a predictable pricing mechanism would help protect petrol pump owners from unexpected financial losses and prevent disruptions in fuel supplies. He warned that continued price reductions without consultation could lead to a wider petrol supply crisis.

Meanwhile, the suspension of petrol sales at several outlets in Peshawar and other districts has created difficulties for motorists, with long queues reported at petrol pumps along different highways and routes.

In Peshawar, some petrol pumps located along major highways have reportedly attributed the suspension of fuel supplies to ongoing construction work or technical issues.

However, these explanations have raised questions about whether the stated reasons are intended to avoid possible legal action by the district administration over the suspension of fuel sales.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026