A deep split has emerged within the All Pakistan Petroleum Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) following government negotiations, with one faction postponing its strike while the other insists on an indefinite shutdown from midnight. The division, confirmed by conflicting statements from association leaders on Wednesday, leaves the fate of 15,000 petrol stations hanging in the balance. Main Developments APPPOA Information Secretary Nadeem Aziz Khan announced Wednesday evening that the strike call had been postponed for two weeks, citing assurances from Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. He said the government had promised to implement daily petroleum pricing on a trial basis for a fortnight, after which it would review the merits and demerits. Khan added that the government had also pledged to increase dealers’ margins, unchanged since 2022, and that these assurances were put in writing following a detailed session. The announcement directly contradicted the stance of APPPOA Chairman Humayun Khan and Vice Chairman Noman Butt, who had called for the strike a day earlier. Read also: 3 reasons Samsung could transform Pakistan into a mobile export hub In a recorded message, Humayun Khan urged dealers to stay united and continue the strike, insisting that negotiations had failed to produce any meaningful outcome. Noman Butt could not be reached for comment after slipping out of the Petroleum Division following the talks. The chairman’s press release stated that the government had accepted none of their legitimate demands and that the indefinite nationwide strike would proceed. Background The dispute centers on three key demands from petrol pump owners: opposition to daily fuel pricing, a nearly threefold increase in dealers’ commission from the current Rs8.64 per litre to Rs25, and an end to supply quotas imposed by oil marketing companies. Dealers argue that their margins have remained frozen since 2022 despite rising operational costs and inflation. The government team, led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Petroleum Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Shaikh, and acting OGRA Chairman Nabeel Awan, did not make firm commitments on any specific demand. However, informed sources said Malik told dealers that a tripling of margins was totally unreasonable and unacceptable, particularly given the burden on consumers, but hinted that a reasonable increase would be considered. The government has also promised that OGRA will start publishing fuel prices on its website, with a price breakdown in Urdu for transparency. This move addresses long-standing complaints about opaque pricing mechanisms in the petroleum sector. Why It Matters A nationwide strike at 15,000 petrol stations would cripple Pakistan’s fuel supply, disrupting transportation, agriculture, industrial production, and the entire supply chain. The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has already opposed any increase in dealers’ margins, warning that such disruptions would exacerbate high inflation and economic uncertainty. The split within APPPOA creates confusion for consumers and dealers alike, undermining the association’s bargaining power. If the strike proceeds despite the postponement by one faction, it could lead to localized pump closures and fuel shortages, particularly in areas loyal to the chairman’s faction. Daily fuel pricing, introduced by the government, has drawn criticism from both dealers and business groups. The PBF has called for its immediate withdrawal, arguing it creates problems for the public and stakeholders. The two-week trial period will test whether this system can gain acceptance or will deepen the rift. What's Next Over the next two weeks, the government will review the daily fuel pricing mechanism with stakeholders from the petroleum sector. A summary on dealers’ margins will be submitted to the federal cabinet for consideration, though the minister has already signaled that a tripling of margins is off the table. The postponed faction, led by Nadeem Aziz Khan, will monitor government implementation of the written assurances. Meanwhile, the chairman’s faction may proceed with strike actions, potentially creating a parallel protest. The outcome of the two-week trial will determine whether the association reunites or remains fractured, and whether consumers face further disruptions in fuel supply.