Finance Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.
ISLAMABAD:
The government has collected over Rs66 billion through the recent hike in oil tax, the Senate was informed on Thursday as a lawmaker questioned why fuel prices have not come down despite a fall in global oil prices.
Responding to a query by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government had increased the tax by Rs8 per liter on petrol and Rs7 per liter on diesel with effect from April 16, 2025.
The senator noted that the Prime Minister had indicated that the additional revenue would be used to upgrade the N-25 Highway and sought details of the amount collected and funds transferred for that purpose.
The Minister informed the House that the increased tax generated Rs 66.13 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 does not fall under the mandate of the Petroleum Division.
He said that questions regarding the utilization of the tax for the N-25 project should be addressed to the relevant ministry in charge of public sector development and budgeting.
Later, in response to a question from Senator Jan Muhammad, the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senate on the Electricity Import Agreement between Pakistan and Iran, particularly for the supply to Makran Division.
He said the electricity import contract, originally signed on November 6, 2002, underwent its 10th amendment on December 27, 2024.
