Amid global reductions in fuel prices, the Fake News Watchdog has released a 38-page white paper, criticizing the Pakistani government's recent hikes in petroleum product rates. The report claims the current fuel prices in Pakistan are inconsistent with international trends and heavily burdened by unprecedented taxation.
According to the report, the government is collecting a record Rs103 per liter as petroleum levy. It highlights that in the year 2000, when crude oil was priced at USD 22 per barrel, petrol in Pakistan was sold at Rs30 per liter. In stark contrast, the 2025 price of crude oil stands at USD 69 per barrel, while consumers in Pakistan are paying Rs272 per liter.
The white paper also reveals that petroleum levy collection reached Rs1.02 trillion in the previous fiscal year, extracted directly from the public’s pockets. The watchdog describes the ongoing deregulation of the petroleum sector as deceptive, alleging that while OGRA (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) only makes recommendations, the final pricing decisions are taken by the government.
The report calls for empowering OGRA to independently determine prices and publicly release a transparent pricing formula to ensure accountability and fairness in fuel pricing.
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