Pakistan Business Forum demanded a petroleum levy equivalent…..

Admin.CEO 25 July, 2026News & Updates, Pakistan News

Pakistan Business Forum demanded a petroleum levy equivalent to 18% GST to reduce petrol prices.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s daily petroleum pricing mechanism comes under fresh scrutiny, a double whammy for the government. Amid public outrage, the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to revise the current formula, warning that it was hurting the economy, both businesses and consumers.

In a letter to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, PBF President Khawaja Mehboobur Rehman demanded an immediate review of the policy under which the prices of petroleum products are revised on a daily basis. They argued that the current system has created uncertainty in the market, slowed economic activity, and placed additional burdens on both the business community and the public.

The business body proposed several key changes to ease pressure on fuel prices. It recommended equating the petroleum levy to 18% GST per liter and reducing the per liter margin of oil marketing companies (OMCs) to help bring greater stability in fuel prices.

According to the letter, the current pricing formula has pushed businesses and consumers into economic stagnation, making it increasingly difficult for commercial activity to resume. The forum stressed that during difficult economic conditions, the government’s priority is to provide relief rather than policies that further exacerbate financial stress.

The PBF urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to personally intervene and revise the petroleum pricing mechanism, saying such a move would support businesses, restore market confidence and provide much-needed relief to the public.

The appeal comes after the federal government adopted a daily petroleum price adjustment mechanism, a policy approved during a cabinet meeting on June 17, replacing the earlier pricing schedule with more frequent revisions.