Oil Companies Active for Margin Increases Following Dealer Margin Hike, OCAC Writes to OGRA Over Rs66 Billion in Pending Claims
ISLAMABAD: Stirred into action following the recent upward revision in petroleum dealer margins, oil marketing companies (OMCs) have stepped up demands for an increase in their own profit margins, prompting the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) to formally write to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
The council has demanded the immediate resolution and implementation of Rs66.7 billion in outstanding price differential claims (PDCs) and pending margin adjustments. Pending Claims Since March 2026 and Liquidity Pressures According to details, oil marketing companies have approached OGRA to press for the execution of their long-awaited margin revisions.
The OCAC letter highlights that petroleum company claims have remained stalled since March 2026, noting that this withheld amount is roughly equivalent to the financial value of five imported petrol cargoes.
The council has urged the regulator to swiftly conclude the verification and auditing process of these outstanding claims and disburse the verified dues without further delay. Disparity in Margins and Supply Chain WarningsThe OCAC pointed out that while OMC profit margins were last revised back in September 2023, dealer margins on petrol and high-speed diesel were increased by Rs1.34 per litre in August.
Meanwhile, an approved adjustment providing a Rs1.22 per litre increase for oil marketing companies remains pending implementation. Demanding immediate enforcement of the OMC margin hike, OCAC stressed that oil marketing companies are currently operating under intense financial strain. Compounded by regional security tensions and potential supply chain bottlenecks, the council warned that due to the precarious financial health of the sector, the oil industry will not accept responsibility for any resulting disruptions in the fuel supply chain.