The Pakistan government has spent about Rs 38 billion to keep petrol and diesel prices stable for citizens. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has processed and released this amount as Price Differential Claims (PDC) to 34 oil marketing companies (OMCs).
This money compensates the companies for selling fuel at lower rates than the actual market price. When international oil prices rise, the government absorbs part of the cost so that pump prices do not increase sharply. This helps millions of Pakistani families, transporters, and businesses by keeping fuel affordable.
OGRA said the payments were made under a new system approved by the federal government. The revised mechanism aims to bring more transparency, faster checks, and better efficiency in verifying claims. Officials hope this will ensure timely support to oil companies while maintaining strict financial discipline.
However, industry groups like the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) have raised concerns. They say many payments are still delayed. Billions of rupees from March and early April claims remain outstanding, with total pending PDC reaching around Rs 128 billion in recent weeks. These delays are hurting the cash flow of oil companies, making it difficult for them to import fuel and manage daily operations smoothly.
Oil marketing companies play a key role in supplying petrol and diesel across the country. If liquidity problems continue, there could be risks to fuel availability in some areas.
