ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved a higher margin for petroleum dealers after sustained pressure from the industry, with the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) raising the dealers’ commission on petrol and high-speed diesel to Rs9.98 per litre from Rs8.64, according to sources.
The decision follows demands from petroleum dealers for higher margins and comes after reports that a section of the industry had threatened a strike if its concerns were not addressed.
The ECC considered the matter at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, where a summary submitted by the Petroleum Division on revising margins for motor spirit and high-speed diesel was taken up.
Federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Ahad Khan Cheema, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions, attended the meeting.
Dealers’ Margin Rises to Rs9.98 Per Litre
According to sources, the approved revision takes the petroleum dealers’ margin from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98 per litre, an increase of Rs1.34.
Earlier reporting on the ECC framework showed that the increase had been structured in phases and linked in part to progress on digitisation of petroleum sales and stock monitoring.
The margin applies to petrol, officially known as motor spirit, and high-speed diesel.
Dealers’ Pressure Puts Govt Under Spotlight
The latest decision has drawn attention because petroleum dealers had been pressing the government for a higher return and a group of dealers had reportedly warned of industrial action.
The approval therefore gives the story a broader consumer and policy dimension beyond a routine revision in industry margins.
Higher dealer and oil marketing company margins form part of the per-litre fuel pricing structure, meaning changes can ultimately affect the amount paid by consumers unless the government absorbs the additional cost elsewhere.
ECC Reviews Petroleum Division Proposal
The Petroleum Division placed the proposal before the ECC for revision of margins on petrol and high-speed diesel.
Previous ECC decisions had linked increases in petroleum-sector margins to inflation indicators and digitalisation benchmarks aimed at improving transparency in sales and stock reporting.
The revised dealer margin comes at a time when fuel prices remain closely watched because even small changes in the pricing structure can affect transport costs and household expenses.
Further clarity on the timing and full implementation of the revised margin is expected through the relevant government notification.
Also Read: Petrol Is Expensive, But Pakistan Has Avoided Shortages: Petroleum Minister
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