Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has said the government cannot change its petroleum levy targets without consulting Pakistan’s international financial partners. He made the statement during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum on October 8, 2026.
The minister explained that petroleum levy targets had been included in the federal budget and could not be changed without consultation with the country’s multilateral partners. His remarks came as lawmakers discussed the impact of the levy on fuel prices and the financial pressure on consumers.
The levy has become a major source of government revenue. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the government has set a collection target of Rs1.676 trillion from petroleum products, compared with actual collections of Rs1.567 trillion in the previous fiscal year.
During the committee meeting, lawmakers also raised concerns about the burden of the levy on the public. The discussion comes as political parties demand a reduction or removal of the charge to provide relief to people facing high fuel costs.
Pakistan’s fuel prices are also affected by changes in international oil markets and the country’s financial commitments.
