Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has claimed that the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices was caused entirely by higher government taxes and levies rather than any rise in international oil prices.
In a statement shared on social media, Miftah Ismail said the government increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs15 per litre each, pushing petrol prices to around Rs415 per litre across Pakistan.
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According to him, the latest fuel hike was not linked to fluctuations in global crude oil prices but was instead the result of additional taxes imposed on petroleum products.
He claimed that consumers are now paying a petroleum levy of Rs120 per litre on petrol, while diesel carries a levy of approximately Rs45 per litre.
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He further stated that diesel also includes nearly Rs30 per litre in customs duties, whereas petrol includes around Rs20 per litre in duties.
Miftah Ismail argued that these charges mean almost one-third of the petrol price and nearly 16 per cent of the diesel price are being collected by the government through taxes and levies.
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Criticising the government’s economic approach, he said authorities should not claim they are protecting the public from the full impact of fuel price increases or implementing austerity measures.
He alleged that instead of reducing expenditures, the financial burden has effectively been shifted to consumers through higher fuel taxation.
