A dispute over how often petrol prices should change is about to shut down thousands of fuel stations across Pakistan. The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) announced a nationwide strike starting Wednesday night, after talks with the government collapsed. The conflict centers on a shift from monthly to daily price adjustments, which dealers say threatens their survival. Main Developments The APPPOA declared an indefinite strike from midnight on Wednesday, meaning around 15,000 petrol pumps will remain closed on Thursday. The announcement followed a one-hour meeting with a government team led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, which the association said "failed" to produce an agreement. APPPOA Vice Chairman Nauman Ali Butt told reporters that the daily pricing plan was "unacceptable to petrol pump dealers and unworkable." He reiterated their core demand: fuel prices should be set on a monthly basis. The association also pointed to a long-standing demand for an increase in dealer commission, which has remained frozen for three years. Read also: Why Pakistan Stocks Couldn't Hold Their Gains Despite Falling Oil Chairman Humayun Khan explained that petrol pump owners already face "severe financial challenges" from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), oil marketing companies (OMCs), and government policies. He argued that the daily pricing mechanism creates confusion and destroys businesses operating on thin margins, while favoring OMCs who can delay deliveries when prices fall. Separately, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) said it would decide on Wednesday whether to join the strike. PPDA Senior Adviser Malik Khuda Bukhsh told Dawn that daily pricing was "not possible and unacceptable." He noted that after a separate meeting, Ogra acknowledged the decision to introduce daily pricing had been taken in haste and asked for seven days to convey dealers' concerns to the government. Background The government recently transitioned from weekly to daily petroleum price announcements, a shift based on a seven-day rolling average of international prices. The Petroleum Division described the change as a way to enhance transparency, reduce market distortions, and better reflect global price movements. The minister briefed the PPDA on Monday about the new mechanism. The APPPOA and PPDA represent thousands of fuel dealers across Pakistan. Their relationship with the government has been strained over commission rates and pricing policies. The dealer commission has not been increased in three years, adding to financial pressures. The APPPOA chairman said it was "ironic" that the government made such a major decision without consulting key stakeholders. Why It Matters A nationwide strike of 15,000 petrol pumps would disrupt fuel supply for millions of Pakistanis, affecting transportation, commerce, and daily life. The dispute highlights a deeper tension between government efforts to align local prices with global markets and the operational realities of small businesses. If unresolved, the strike could lead to fuel shortages, price volatility, and economic slowdown. The conflict also reflects broader exclusion of small private businesses from policymaking, as noted by the APPPOA. The daily pricing mechanism, while intended to improve transparency, has created uncertainty for dealers who operate on thin margins and face regulatory pressures from Ogra and OMCs. What's Next The APPPOA strike is set to begin at midnight on Wednesday, closing pumps nationwide on Thursday. The PPDA will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to join the action. Ogra has asked for seven days to convey dealers' concerns to the government, but the PPDA delegation was not authorized to call off a strike. The Petroleum Division, meanwhile, claimed that talks with the PPDA were successful, but the association's own statements contradict that. The coming days will determine whether a compromise can be reached or if the strike will escalate.