OMCs seek swift margin revision

Oil marketing companies have asked the federal government to intervene quickly after their regulated margins remained unrevised for a prolonged period, according to The Express Tribune. The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) wrote to Energy Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on August 18, 2026. It said rising operating, financing and compliance costs have squeezed firms whose margins were last changed in September 2023.

They want the already cleared Rs1.22 per litre increase notified now rather than being tied to finishing the government's digitisation drive. Member companies say they have already filed a three-year implementation plan and argue that a multi-year, capital-heavy project should not be a condition for a hike the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has endorsed. Current margins of Rs7.87 per litre are called far too low, with regulated gross margin around 2%.

Liquidity is another concern, with roughly Rs66.7 billion of price differential claims still outstanding alongside unresolved GST and input tax refunds. The council warned that these delays could deter fresh investment and weaken confidence among investors in the petroleum sector. Its three demands are prompt notification of the pending increase, determination of overdue margins for FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, and a fair, sustainable regulatory framework, plus an urgent meeting with the minister.