The federal government has collected more than Rs2.7 trillion in petroleum levy from citizens over the past two years, according to official documents, with the amount reportedly exceeding the combined value of Pakistan’s two ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programmes.
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Documents revealed that from April 2024 to March 2026, the government collected Rs2,725 billion under the petroleum levy head. In comparison, the total amount of the two IMF loan programmes, converted into Pakistani currency at the current exchange rate, stands at approximately Rs2,340 billion.
وفاقی حکومت نے صرف دوسال میں شہریوں سے پیٹرولیم لیوی کی مد میں 2 ہزار 700 ارب روپے سے زائد کی ریکارڈ وصولی کرلی۔
سرکاری دستاویزات کے مطابق وفاقی حکومت نےاپریل 2024سے لیکر مارچ2026کے 2سال کے دوران پیٹرولیم لیوی کی مد میں 2ہزار 725 ارب وصول کیے جو کہ جو کہ آئی ایم ایف کےدونوں قرض…
— Fahmidah Yousfi (@fahmidahyousfi) May 25, 2026
The figures have once again highlighted the government’s growing dependence on indirect taxation and fuel-based revenue generation to support fiscal management and meet economic targets.
According to the official data, during the first nine months of the current fiscal year — from July 2025 to March 2026 — the government collected over Rs1,205 billion in petroleum levy alone.
In the previous fiscal year 2024-25, petroleum levy collections stood at Rs1,220.21 billion. Meanwhile, during the April to June quarter of 2024, the levy generated an additional Rs299.63 billion for the national exchequer.
The petroleum levy is imposed on petroleum products including petrol and diesel, and its rates are periodically revised by the federal government. Revenue generated through the levy is used to support budgetary needs and fulfil commitments linked to economic reforms and fiscal stability.
Economists say the rising reliance on petroleum levies has increased the financial burden on consumers already struggling with inflation and high fuel prices. Critics argue that excessive indirect taxation disproportionately affects middle- and lower-income groups.
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However, government officials maintain that petroleum levy collections remain a crucial source of revenue at a time when Pakistan continues efforts to stabilise the economy, improve fiscal discipline, and meet international financial obligations under ongoing reform programmes.