Amid a global decline in oil prices, the Fake News Watchdog has released a scathing 38-page white paper, criticizing the Pakistani government for unjustified fuel price hikes and record-breaking petroleum levies.
The report highlights that despite a global trend of decreasing fuel prices, the petrol price in Pakistan has surged to Rs272 per liter, largely due to excessive taxation. It claims the government is currently imposing a record Rs103 per liter as petroleum levy, placing an “unprecedented burden on the common citizen.”
“Petroleum pricing has become a tool of fiscal extraction rather than fair market reflection,” the watchdog stated.
Drawing a historical comparison, the report notes that in the year 2000, when crude oil was USD 22 per barrel, petrol in Pakistan was Rs30/liter. In 2025, although crude oil is priced at USD 69 per barrel, Pakistani consumers are paying over nine times more per liter.
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The watchdog reveals that the government collected Rs1.02 trillion in petroleum levy in the last fiscal year, accusing it of funneling this revenue directly from the pockets of ordinary citizens.
The report criticizes the deregulation of the petroleum sector as misleading, stating that while OGRA merely gives pricing recommendations, the government retains final control over prices. It demands that OGRA be granted independent authority to set prices and that a transparent fuel pricing formula be published regularly for public scrutiny.
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Empower OGRA to make independent fuel pricing decisions
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Publish a transparent and traceable pricing formula
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Reduce petroleum levy to align with global standards
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Ensure public accountability in pricing decisions
The white paper has sparked intense debate on social media, with citizens demanding clarity, transparency, and relief from high fuel costs.
