The Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association has welcomed the Energy Ministry’s decision to extend the deadline for complying with the Dangerous Petroleum License regulations until October 23 2025 but has warned that the extension is only a short-term relief and fails to resolve the fundamental regulatory problems threatening industrial sectors.

PCDMA Chairman Salim Valimohammad thanked the Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik along with officials from the Directorate General of Explosives for the extension but noted that forty-two days of reprieve falls short of the typical sixty to ninety day cycle required for importers to plan their purchases. He said this mismatch creates serious timing and cost challenges for businesses.

He argued that many raw materials currently grouped under DPL Classes B and C are not petroleum based but organic industrial compounds crucial to industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, plastics, fertilizers and cosmetics. Since these materials pose no risk under the Petroleum Act the misclassification undermines supply chains and increases costs unnecessarily.

PCDMA has urged the government to urgently review and revise the scope of DPL regulations to exclude non-petroleum-based raw materials from its coverage The association warned that if the misapplication continues export competitiveness could be damaged foreign exchange earnings reduced and industrial operations could face disruptions.

Summing up, the association called for a longer adjustment timeline predictable regulation and clear rules so that industries can adapt to regulation without harm If addressed properly this issue could strengthen industrial stability otherwise it risks driving costs up and undermining Pakistan’s manufacturing base.