Pakistan Opposition Criticizes Fuel Levy as Government Promises Further Relief
Islamabad:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader **Asad Qaiser** has criticized the government for maintaining high fuel prices despite a decline in global oil prices, accusing it of placing an unnecessary financial burden on the public.
In a statement posted on X, Qaiser said that although international petroleum prices have continued to fall, the government has chosen not to pass the benefit on to consumers. Instead, he alleged that the administration was relying on heavy fuel levies to generate revenue.
He claimed that the government is currently collecting **Rs66 per liter in petroleum levy on petrol** and **Rs79 per liter on diesel**, forcing consumers to pay significantly higher prices despite lower international market rates.
Qaiser further argued that the government was shifting the burden of its economic policies onto the public through increased taxes and levies, adding that it should immediately reduce the petroleum levy to provide relief to citizens.
Meanwhile, **Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik** defended the government’s pricing policy and assured the public that additional relief could be announced in the near future.
In a statement, Malik said the government remains committed to passing on the benefits of declining global crude oil prices to consumers. He noted that international crude prices have dropped significantly and expressed confidence that prices of refined petroleum products would also continue to decline, creating room for further domestic price reductions.
Highlighting the government’s previous measures, Malik said that under the leadership of Prime Minister **Shehbaz Sharif**, diesel prices have been reduced by **up to Rs200 per liter** and petrol prices by **up to Rs155 per liter** compared to previous peak levels.
He added that, if the current global trend continues, the government is prepared to introduce further reductions in fuel prices to provide additional relief to the public in the coming weeks.
