KARACHI: Petroleum Dealers Association (PDA) announced shutting down of petrol pumps across country from coming July 22. PDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that Iranian petrol was being smuggled into country due to which profit rate of dealers had decreased. "Government and dealers have to bear loss caused by smuggling. Government should increase margin on petroleum products from Rs 3 to Rs 9," PDA chairman demanded.

 "Inflation rate has become very high compared to last year. Income has depleted due to financial cost and other needs," he said. "Dealers in petroleum industry act as backbone of country. They are being neglected by government," he stated.

 "Our agreement with government took place in 1999 according to which we were to get five percent margin on petroleum products," he added. "Due to financial cost and other expenditures, profit of petrol pumps with low sales has come to zero. Our sales have dropped by 30 percent due to sale of smuggled Iranian petrol and diesel," he averred.

 "It is responsibility of current government to provide justice to business community. We are going on strike for an indefinite period under compulsion. There will be no strike on 9th and 10th of Muharram," he declared.