Govt Set to Increase Petroleum Levy Instead of Reducing Petrol, Diesel Prices

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was held on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s Office. Addressing the participants of the meeting, the Prime Minister announced that instead of passing on the reduction in petroleum product prices in the international market to consumers, the saved amount will be used for the dualization of the vital N-25 highway (Chaman-Quetta-Kalat-Khuzdar-Karachi Road) in Balochistan. This move is aimed at providing better travel facilities to the people of Balochistan. The Prime Minister directed that the restoration of the national highway should be carried out to motorway standards. Additionally, the same savings will be used to complete Phase 2 of the Kachhi Canal, which will irrigate hundreds of acres of land in Balochistan and bring prosperity to the province and the country at large. Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, who specially attended the federal cabinet meeting, thanked the Prime Minister for the N-25 restoration project and other development initiatives for the people of Balochistan. The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Petroleum Division, approved an amendment to the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) Ordinance 1961. This amendment is expected to increase national revenue.