Islamabad: The Shehbaz government has completed two and a half years in office, during which consumers have faced a significant increase in fuel prices and a record burden of petroleum levies. According to government documents, citizens have paid billions of rupees in taxes and levies through petroleum products during the current administration.
Official figures show that the federal government collected a record Rs3,137 billion in petroleum levy during the period under review. The additional financial burden was ultimately borne by consumers through the prices they paid for petrol and diesel, adding to the pressure on household budgets.
According to the documents, when the current government began on March 4, 2024, the price of high-speed diesel stood at Rs287.33 per litre. It later reached Rs520.35 per litre. This represents an increase of Rs233 per litre in the price of diesel during the period.
Petrol prices also witnessed a substantial increase. At the beginning of the government’s tenure, petrol was priced at Rs279.75 per litre. The price subsequently reached Rs458.41 per litre, marking an increase of Rs178.66 per litre. The figures highlight the sharp fluctuations experienced by consumers in the domestic fuel market.
Government data further shows that the federal government collected Rs1,567 billion in petroleum levy during the fiscal year 2025-26. In addition to the petroleum levy, more than Rs50 billion was collected separately in the form of a carbon levy imposed on petrol and diesel.
During the fiscal year 2024-25, the government collected Rs1,220 billion through the petroleum levy. Earlier, between April and June 2024, petroleum levy collection stood at Rs299.63 billion, according to official figures. The data indicates that petroleum-related levies have remained a major source of government revenue.
At present, a petroleum levy of Rs80 per litre is being charged on both petrol and diesel. A separate climate support levy of Rs5 per litre is also being collected on each product.
