Miftah Ismail has said that the government could collect around Rs. 180 billion this month from taxes, duties, and levies on petrol and diesel after the recent price increase.
Petrol prices have gone up by Rs. 6.51 per litre, while diesel prices have increased by Rs. 19.39 per litre, bringing diesel close to Rs. 400 per litre.
Even though the government reduced the petroleum levy on petrol by Rs. 3.88 per litre, it added a much higher levy of Rs. 28.69 per litre on diesel.
According to Miftah Ismail, people are still paying very high taxes on fuel. He explained that around Rs. 120 per litre of petrol price consists of taxes, while diesel includes about Rs. 60 per litre in taxes and levies. This means a large portion of what consumers pay at the pump is not the actual fuel cost, but government charges.
He also criticized the government’s spending decisions, saying that priorities appear to be politically driven rather than focused on public relief. He believes that instead of reducing the burden on citizens, the government is relying heavily on fuel taxes to increase revenue.
These price hikes are likely to increase the cost of living, as higher fuel prices usually lead to expensive transportation and higher prices of goods.
This puts additional financial pressure on the public, especially at a time when many people are already struggling with inflation and rising daily expenses.
