Upward revision: Oil price hike on the cards
Govt may increase oil prices by up to Rs4.40 per litre.
ISLAMABAD:
The government may increase oil prices by up to Rs4.40 per litre – effective from August 16 – to pass on the impact of global oil prices to consumers.
In spite of the recommendation made by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to the petroleum ministry, President Asif Ali Zardari has issued directives to halt an increase in the rates of petroleum products.
According to the summary moved by Ogra on Monday, the regulator recommended Rs3.21 per litre increase in the price of petrol, Rs4.85 per litre in the price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC), Rs3.52 per litre in the price of kerosene oil, Rs4.40 per litre in the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) and Rs3.19 per litre in the price of Light Diesel Oil (LDO). The summary also recommended a price hike in jet fuel – JP-1 by Rs3.48 per litre, JP-4 by Rs3.47 per litre and JP-8 by Rs3.58 per litre.
With the proposed increase, the price of petrol will jump from Rs93.57 to Rs96.78 per litre, HOBC from Rs120.16 to Rs125.01 per litre, kerosene oil from Rs92.83 to Rs96.35 per litre, HSD from Rs101.79 to Rs106.19 per litre, LDO from Rs90.11 to Rs93.30 per litre. The new price of JP-1 will go up from Rs82.36 to Rs 85.84 per litre, JP-4 from Rs74.04 to Rs77.51 per litre and JP-8 from Rs82.05 to Rs85.53 per litre.
The new prices will be effective from August 16 after approval of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
Earlier, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had proposed that the federal government cut the rate of the petroleum levy to provide relief to consumers from the rising trend in oil prices during Ramazan.
However, a senior official at the petroleum ministry said that the finance ministry shot down the proposal, as petroleum levy was an easy source of collecting tax from the consumers to bridge its budget deficit.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain said that the prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged irrespective of the increase recommended by OGRA.
Talking to Pakistan Television (PTV), he said that President Zardari had advised that the POL prices should be kept stable on the account of Eidul Fitr.
Replying to a question, he said that the changes in POL prices are linked with international markets, and Ogra is responsible for recommending the changes in the prices.
(with additional input from APP)
The government may increase oil prices by up to Rs4.40 per litre – effective from August 16 – to pass on the impact of global oil prices to consumers.
In spite of the recommendation made by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to the petroleum ministry, President Asif Ali Zardari has issued directives to halt an increase in the rates of petroleum products.
According to the summary moved by Ogra on Monday, the regulator recommended Rs3.21 per litre increase in the price of petrol, Rs4.85 per litre in the price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC), Rs3.52 per litre in the price of kerosene oil, Rs4.40 per litre in the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) and Rs3.19 per litre in the price of Light Diesel Oil (LDO). The summary also recommended a price hike in jet fuel – JP-1 by Rs3.48 per litre, JP-4 by Rs3.47 per litre and JP-8 by Rs3.58 per litre.
With the proposed increase, the price of petrol will jump from Rs93.57 to Rs96.78 per litre, HOBC from Rs120.16 to Rs125.01 per litre, kerosene oil from Rs92.83 to Rs96.35 per litre, HSD from Rs101.79 to Rs106.19 per litre, LDO from Rs90.11 to Rs93.30 per litre. The new price of JP-1 will go up from Rs82.36 to Rs 85.84 per litre, JP-4 from Rs74.04 to Rs77.51 per litre and JP-8 from Rs82.05 to Rs85.53 per litre.
The new prices will be effective from August 16 after approval of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
Earlier, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had proposed that the federal government cut the rate of the petroleum levy to provide relief to consumers from the rising trend in oil prices during Ramazan.
However, a senior official at the petroleum ministry said that the finance ministry shot down the proposal, as petroleum levy was an easy source of collecting tax from the consumers to bridge its budget deficit.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain said that the prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged irrespective of the increase recommended by OGRA.
Talking to Pakistan Television (PTV), he said that President Zardari had advised that the POL prices should be kept stable on the account of Eidul Fitr.
Replying to a question, he said that the changes in POL prices are linked with international markets, and Ogra is responsible for recommending the changes in the prices.
(with additional input from APP)