Recent increase in petroleum prices put more burden on low-income segments of the society as the IMF programme became main hurdle in lowering of petroleum prices.
Sources said that the Pakistan government enhanced petroleum prices by Rs12.14 per liter during last one and a half month and due to IMF programme the increase in prices of POL products was inevitable.
The federal government increased price of high-speed diesel (HSD) to Rs12.14 from October 16, 2024 while petroleum price had witnessed an increase of Rs5.7 per litre.
The incumbent government enhanced prices of petroleum products twice while HSD prices were increased three times during last one and a half month.
The federal cannot decrease PDL (petroleum development levy) on petroleum products. Currently government charging Rs60 per liter under the head of PDL.
The common men have to bear the burden of excessive PDL on petroleum products and high-speed diesel. The government received rupees 261 billion and 69 crore as petroleum development levy from during first quarter July to September 2024.
During first quarter of current fiscal year an increase of rupees 39 billion and 62 crore was registered as PDL, while during same period of previous fiscal year rupees 222 billion and 7 crores were recovered under the head of petroleum development levy.
