ISLAMABAD: The federal government has collected over Rs180 billion from consumers through the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) in just six weeks, reflecting a sharp surge in revenue amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
According to officials in the Ministry of Finance, PDL collections rose significantly during the recent escalation involving the United States and Iran, placing an increased financial burden on petroleum consumers across the country.
Cumulatively, from July of the მიმდინარე fiscal year to mid-April, the government has amassed Rs1,234 billion under the levy—around Rs400 billion higher than the same period last year—marking a substantial increase in fiscal receipts.
Month-wise data shows consistent high collections: Rs157 billion in July, Rs103.46 billion in August, Rs112.85 billion in September, and Rs143.48 billion in October. November and December recorded Rs148.36 billion and Rs162.46 billion respectively, with December marking the highest monthly collection.
In the following months, Rs108.76 billion was collected in January, Rs120.39 billion in February, and Rs139.48 billion in March. Notably, Rs38 billion has already been collected in the first half of April alone.
Officials highlighted that a significant portion of the revenue stemmed from imported petroleum products. Between July and mid-April, over Rs598 billion was collected on imported petrol and diesel, while Rs635.19 billion was generated from locally refined petroleum products derived from crude oil.
The sharp increase in PDL collections underscores the government’s reliance on petroleum taxation to support fiscal stability, even as consumers continue to face elevated fuel costs.
Story by Irshad Ansari
