Filling station owners demand 6pc increase in profit margin.

SWAT -- The office-bearers of All Swat Petroleum Association here on Saturday demanded the government to increase the profit margin by six per cent otherwise the filling station owners would close their outlets from July 1.

They were addressing a press conference in Swat Press Club. Led by the association president Khizar Hayat and general secretary Najibullah, the office-bearers said that their sale had dropped by almost 50 per cent with the recent hikes in the prices of petroleum products.

They said that the filling station owners got 0.93 per cent margin which was not sufficient in view of the recent price hike and inflation. 'It is difficult for the filling station owners to run their businesses as they are already facing heavy losses after a drop in their sales,' they said.

The association's office-bearers said that everyone rushed to the filling stations when the government increased the price of petroleum products, which caused difficulties for the operating...