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Petrol price hike: PDL increased to Rs60 per litre

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  • Petrol, diesel increased by Rs14.91, Rs18.44 per litre, respectively. 
  • Rs50 per litre levy is being charged on diesel. 
  • Govt can charge maximum of Rs60 PDL on POL products.

ISLAMABAD: In line with the agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the caretaker government has jacked up the petroleum development levy on petrol to the maximum limit of Rs60 per litre.

On Thursday, the Finance Division announced an increase in the price of petrol by Rs14.91 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs18.44 per litre.

The increase brings the price of petrol to Rs305.36 per litre and HSD to Rs311.84 per litre — the highest in the country’s history.

Pakistan has agreed to hike the PDL to Rs60 on petrol and diesel and the same was approved by the National Assembly through the Finance Bill 2023 in June.

According to sources, currently, the Rs50 per litre levy is being charged on diesel while on petrol it was increased by Rs5 in the latest review of POL prices.

The government can charge a maximum of Rs60 PDL on POL products under the IMF deal and the parliament’s approval is needed in case of further rise in this duty.

In its notification posted on X, the finance ministry stated that the increase in fuel prices was due to the “increasing trend of petroleum prices in the international market and exchange rate variations”.

On August 1, the government had raised the price of petrol by Rs19.95/litre and of high-speed diesel by Rs19.90 per litre. On August 16, the price of petrol and diesel were raised by Rs17.50 per litre and Rs20 per litre respectively.

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Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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