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Strike called off as petroleum dealers’ margin raised by Rs1.6 per litre

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  • Dealers initially termed Rs1.64 per litre increment “insufficient”.
  • Raise in margins to be applied in four phases.
  • Dealers’ margin to rise to Rs 7.64 per litre after two months.

KARACHI: In a bid to convince petroleum dealers to call off the strike they threatened last week, the government agreed to increase their profit margin on petroleum products by Rs1.64 per litre, after hours-long negotiations, The News reported Tuesday.

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan announced the deal made in this regard.

The government had proposed increasing the dealers’ margin by Rs1.64 per litre. 

The dealers — who had initially sought an increase of Rs5 per litre — initially opposed this increment as “insufficient” in the face of the increased cost of their business. 

However, they later accepted the offer. 

The rise in dealers’ margins will be applied to the consumer price in four phases. 

It will be raised by Rs.0.41 per litre every fortnight, and the dealers will receive a full raise of Rs1.6 per litre in two months, bringing the dealers’ margin to Rs7.6 per litre after 2 months from the current Rs6 per litre.

Last week, the petrol pump owners’ representative, PPDA, announced shutting down fuel pumps across the country from July 22, demanding an increase in profit margins amid an inflation crisis.

In a statement, the association said the State Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, was informed about their concerns but to no avail.

The official communique said interest rates and inflation had hit operators’ businesses and called for the dealership margin to be increased.

It said sales have slumped by 30% due to Iranian fuel being smuggled into the country.

However, the following day, the PPDA deferred its strike for two days after the association members negotiated with the petroleum minister, who arrived in Karachi on Friday to convince the PPDA to call off the nationwide strike.

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Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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