Unjustified Decrease in HSD Prices to Cost PKR 11 Billion Losses to Oil Marketing Companies

Karachi July 17 2023: Price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) for second fortnight of July 2023 has been reduced by Rs. 7 by the Government of Pakistan (GoP) despite the fact that the price was increasing based on formula approved by GoP vide ECC’s decision dated July 28, 2020, reported by OCAC.

Instead of passing on the increase or absorbing the impact of this increase by reducing Petroleum Levy, the price was unilaterally and unjustly reduced by applying inaccurate Premium.

As per GoP approved mechanism, in case of no import by PSO during a particular fortnight, Premium and other incidentals for previous fortnight have to be applied; GoP implemented this policy to ensure that the Industry gets accurate recovery for inventory which has been acquired on the rates prevailing in the previous fortnight. Since PSO did not import any HSD during first fortnight of July 2023, previous Premium i.e. USD 11.50 per BBL should have been used in price computation for second fortnight, however, OGRA used Premium of USD 4.20 per BBL; this arbitrary revision of Premium is against the essence of above mentioned ECC decision. It is also pertinent to mention that apart from Premium, other incidentals included in price were from previous period i.e. second fortnight June 2023; this clearly shows that the Premium applied is anomalous.

Based on stock levels at the end of previous fortnight and expected local production, this manipulation in pricing has generated an inventory loss for the Industry to the tone of PKR 11 billion which is not sustainable and will severely impact the already crippled Oil Industry.

“You are well aware that the Industry is facing severe financial crunch due to insufficient margins, increased markup, high global prices, depreciation of Rupee etc. and will not be able to manage uninterrupted fuel supplies if this manipulation in pricing is not rectified through immediate price revision” states OCAC.

Impact of this anomaly is computed as under: