The meeting concluded with a mutual determination to continue the close collaboration between the Ministry of Petroleum and OGDC to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities within the energy sector. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
ISLAMABAD:
It has been revealed that the federal government has collected over Rs 180 billion from the public under the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) over the last one and a half month, amid heightened regional tensions.
According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the collection of tax on petroleum products in Pakistan has increased phenomenally.
They said that during the recent escalation and conflict between the United States and Iran, the government collected more than Rs 180 billion in PDL from consumers in about six weeks.
The data further shows that from July of the current fiscal year to mid-April, a total of Rs 1,234 billion has been collected as oil tax. This represents an increase of around Rs 400 billion compared to the same period last fiscal year, marking a significant fiscal leap in the country’s history.
Monthly figures show that Rs 157 billion was collected in July, followed by Rs 103.46 billion in August. In September, collections amounted to Rs 112.85 billion, while in October, Rs 143.48 billion were collected.
In November, tax collection reached Rs 148.36 billion, while December saw the highest monthly collection of the fiscal year at Rs 162.46 billion.
In the following months, Rs 108.76 billion was collected in January, Rs 120.39 billion in February and Rs 139.48 billion in March. During the first 15 days of April alone, 38 billion rupees have already been raised.
Sources said a major part of the government’s revenue came from imported petroleum products. From July to mid-April, more than Rp598 billion was collected as taxes on imported gasoline and diesel. Rs 635.19 billion were collected from the LDP on crude oil products between July and March.
