Pakistan Increases Petroleum Levy on High-Octane Fuel

Stopgap relief

THERE is fiscal logic in the government’s decision to sharply increase the petroleum levy on high-octane fuel — a niche product consumed almost exclusively by owners of luxury and high-performance vehicles. By extracting around Rs9bn per month from those with the greatest capacity to absorb the cost, and redirecting that amount to shield the broader public from surging oil prices, the policy introduces an element of targeted relief. That said, the merits of the move should not be overstated a...

By [email protected] (Editorial)