On the basis of its calculations, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has worked out a substantial increase in prices of petroleum products for the month of November because of the increase in prices of the products in international markets in October.
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But it also said that the prices of petroleum products could be maintained at the existing level or could even be brought down if tax rates on these products – the highest in the country’s history – were partially reduced or brought back to the budgeted position. Based on existing tax rates and PSO purchases from international market, Ogra worked out an increase of Rs5.28 per litre in the ex-depot price of petrol for Oct to Rs79.04 from Rs73.76 per litre.
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The government is currently charging taxes of Rs25.11 per litre, including Rs15.22 per litre (26 pc GST) and Rs9.89 per litre as petroleum levy. The regulator also calculated the price of high speed diesel at depots at Rs85.38 per litre with an increase of Rs3.34 per litre if the current higher tax rates were kept unchanged. The government is collecting Rs37.31 per litre taxes, including Rs27.35 per litre GST on HSD and Rs7.96 as petroleum levy.
