Petroleum products would remain available across the country, the Petroleum Division and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) said on Thursday amid the petroleum dealers’ decision to shut down petrol pumps from Friday (tomorrow) morning.

In a joint statement, the two government organisations directed oil marketing companies to ensure the supply of petroleum products. The Petroleum Division also instructed oil marketing companies to keep their petrol pumps open and operational.

The joint statement comes as a measure to reassure the public and address any concerns regarding the availability of fuel in the country.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) announced that they would be closing all petrol pumps across the country from 6am on July 5 as their negotiations with the government have failed to yield any results.

Despite repeated meetings with the finance minister, the Federal Board of Revenue chairman, and the Ogra chairman, no conclusion could be reached. The association had demanded that the government roll back the taxes, but the negotiations did not produce any positive outcome.

But the government has maintained that enough fuel stock was available.

“There is an ample supply of petroleum products available,” the joint statement said.