ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) recommended on Friday a reduction by eight to 12 per cent in prices of petroleum products for the month of September.
In a summary sent to the ministries of petroleum and finance, Ogra says international prices of all oil products dropped significantly in August after oil producers increased output.
Based on existing tax rates and PSO purchases from international market, Ogra worked out a reduction of Rs6.14 per litre (8pc) in the ex-depot price of petrol to Rs70.62 from Rs76.76 and that of high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs7.60 (8.93pc) per litre to Rs77.45 from Rs85.05.
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The price of kerosene has been recommended at Rs52.81 per litre, a reduction of Rs7.30 (12.14pc), from Rs60.11. Ogra has called for reducing the price of high octane blending component (HOBC) by Rs7.37 per litre (8.9pc) to Rs75.42 from Rs82.79 and that of light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs6.80 (12pc) to Rs49.79 from Rs56.59.
A finance ministry official said the government had also passed on partial relief to consumers last month by making adjustments in tax rates to protect its revenue target. He said the same strategy would be followed this time but without putting any additional burden on consumers.
A final decision about how much relief is to be passed on to consumers will be taken by the prime minister on the advice of the finance ministry and the Federal Board of Revenue.
At present the government is charging 20pc general sales tax on petrol, LDO and kerosene and 37pc on HSD. It is also collecting petroleum levy of Rs9.78 per litre on petrol, Rs7.03 on HSD, Rs3 on LDO, Rs6 on kerosene and Rs14 on HOBC.
Petrol and high speed diesel are two major products that generate most of the revenue from the oil sector. The monthly sale of HSD across the country stands at over 600,000 tons, petrol at about 400,000 tons and HOBC and kerosene at less than 10,000 tons.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015
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