Agreement reached to transfer payments to petroleum dealers’ bank accounts within 48 hours as the government moves to implement the package.
The government and petroleum dealers have reached an agreement on the outstanding issues surrounding the Fuel Relief Package, ending a deadlock and clearing the way for its implementation.
The agreement was reached during negotiations held in Islamabad, where the government accepted the demands raised by petroleum dealers and agreed on a mechanism for making payments due under the package.
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) said the government would issue a formal notification on the payment mechanism shortly.
Payments to Be Made Within 48 Hours
Under the agreement, payments owed to dealers under the Fuel Relief Package will be made through the State Bank of Pakistan, with funds to be transferred to the respective dealers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.
The PPDA described the negotiations as a positive development, saying the government had assured its leadership that the notification outlining the payment mechanism would be issued soon.
Following the agreement, petroleum dealers have started implementing the Fuel Relief Package, according to the association.
Government, Dealers Hold Key Meeting
The meeting was held through Zoom and was attended by PPDA Chairman Malik Khuda Baksh, Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal and Malik Sher Khan. PPDA Sindh President Ameer Khan also participated through a Zoom link.
Discussions focused on resolving the outstanding concerns of dealers and establishing a clear mechanism for the release of payments under the relief package.
The consensus between both sides has now removed the immediate hurdle to implementation.
Petroleum Minister Assures Stakeholders
During the meeting, the Petroleum Minister assured participants that the government would improve and strengthen its consultation process with all stakeholders in the future.
The PPDA said the agreement had addressed the key issue behind the deadlock and expressed hope that timely implementation of the agreed payment mechanism would help resolve the concerns of petroleum dealers.
With the payment process now agreed, dealers have begun implementing the Fuel Relief Package while awaiting the government’s formal notification.