OGRA recommends Rs2.49 hike in petrol price

HSD may also become dearer by Rs5.19 for November

ISLAMABAD: Consumers are likely to face an increase of up to Rs5.19 per litre in fuel prices from Wednesday in line with fluctuation in global oil prices.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) recommended to the government on Monday a hike in the price of motor spirit (petrol) by Rs2.49 and high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5.19 per litre for November.

This amounts to a 3.4% increase in the petrol price and 6.5% for HSD.
HSD is widely used in transport, power and agriculture sectors. The increase in its price will have a direct impact on the consumers of transport and electricity. Following the gas crisis, the government had decided to use imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the transport sector.

Earlier, compressed natural gas (CNG) used to be the alternative fuel for vehicles. However, now LNG is being used in retail CNG outlets, which is not as cheap, and this has resulted in an increase in the demand for petrol. Therefore, the increase in its price will also have a direct impact on the vehicle owners.

According to a working paper forwarded to the Petroleum Division and the Ministry of Finance, the regulator also proposed an increase of Rs15. 99 per litre (33.3%) in the price of superior kerosene and Rs12.63 (27.5%) in light diesel oil (LDO).

The final decision will be made following approval of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

In case the government approves Ogra’s determination, the petrol price will rise to Rs75.99 per litre from the current Rs73.50 and HSD to Rs84.59 from Rs79.40. The price of kerosene will go up to Rs63.99 per litre from Rs48 and LDO to Rs58.63 from Rs46.

The government is charging the highest rate of General Sales Tax on HSD at 31%, while the GST on other petroleum products is 17%. In addition to the GST, the consumers are paying Rs8 per litre Petroleum Levy on HSD, Rs2.49 on petrol, Rs6 on kerosene and Rs3 on LDO.

However, an official said the government was not charging the budgeted amount on kerosene and LDO and, therefore, the calculation of increase in kerosene and LDO prices was higher as compared to other products.

Kerosene is used for cooking. But there was a difference of over Rs30 per litre in the price of diesel and kerosene. This is why it is mixed in HSD to mint money from the consumers.