LAHORE: The business community has demanded the government to transfer the actual and whole benefit of reduction in oil prices in the international market to the industry.
All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) President Ibrahim Qureshi, in a statement, explained that in the world market, the light crude has dropped by 52.77 per cent to $26 per barrel from $55 in January 2015, but the government reduced petrol and diesel prices by a meagre 3 to 6 percent during last one year.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has recommended reduction of up to 21 per cent in prices of petroleum products for the month of February but govt passed on partial benefit of just Rs5.
“The slight cut in petroleum prices is not a reflection of the huge drop of more than 50 percent oil price in the international market,” he said, adding that the Ogra recommended reduction of up to 21 per cent in prices of petroleum products for the month of February, based on existing tax rates but the government has declared very slight cut.
Quoting the energy experts, Ibrahim Qureshi said that the prices could be brought down by up to 50pc if the general sales tax rate was reverted to the normal 17 percent but the government is maintaining GST rates of up to 47 percent on some products to loot the public. He said the crude and product prices in the international market had declined by around 30 percent or about $10 per barrel in the month of January.
He pointed out that in January 2015, petrol and diesel prices stood at Rs78.3 and Rs86.23 per litre while currently the two fuels were selling at Rs76.2 and Rs80.79. The government instead of passing on the benefit of record low world oil prices to consumers has raised petroleum development levy (PDL) and general sales tax. Currently, consumers were paying around Rs24 and Rs27 per litre sales tax on petrol and diesel.
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Rauf Alam said that the economic managers may be making tall claims, but the current situation is far from satisfactory for a nation with per capita income of $1370 and a growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Rauf Alam said that for our economic managers this is a great opportunity as lower oil bill will give them a much-needed sigh of relief as falling oil prices ease pressure on balance of payment position.
Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Samee Ullah Ch said that furnace oil price declined by 27 per cent during the last year in line with international prices but in Pakistan no such benefit was passed on to the industry. He said that 90 percent of FO is consumed by the power sector, as 40 percent of country’s total electricity is generated through it and if furnace oil price is declined the electricity rates will be down automatically.
