Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik.
ISLAMABAD:
The government has collected over 66 billion rupees from the recent oil tax hike, the Senate was informed on Thursday, as a lawmaker questioned why fuel prices had not come down despite a drop in global oil prices.
Replying to a question raised by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government had increased the levy by Rs 8 per liter on petrol and Rs 7 per liter on diesel, with effect from April 16, 2025.
The senator noted that the Prime Minister had indicated that the additional revenues would be used to upgrade the N-25 highway and asked for details on the amount collected and funds transferred for this purpose.
The minister informed the House that the enhanced levy generated Rs66.13 billion from April 16 to September 30, 2025. However, he clarified that the levy once collected is deposited in the Federal Consolidated Fund and its allocation to public infrastructure projects is not within the mandate of the Petroleum Division.
He said questions regarding the use of the levy for the N-25 project should be directed to the relevant ministry in charge of public sector development and budgeting.
Later, responding to a question from Senator Jan Muhammad, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry briefed the Senate about the power import agreement between Pakistan and Iran, particularly for supply to Makran division.
He indicated that the electricity import contract, initially signed on November 6, 2002, underwent its 10th amendment on December 27, 2024.
