Diesel price cut, petrol rate unchanged

Mainly because of lower prices in the international market, the caretaker government on Thursday reduced the prices of petroleum products by about Rs4 to Rs7 per litre, except that of petrol, for the next fortnight starting Dec 1. However, it increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas for the month. In a late-night announcement, the ministry of finance said the government had decided to revise the fuel prices for the fortnight starting Dec 1, as recommended by the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). The ex-depot price of petrol was kept unchanged at Rs281.34 per litre. On the other hand, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was reduced by Rs7 per litre while those of kerosene and light diesel oil were also cut by Rs3.82 and Rs4.52 per litre, respectively. As a consequence, the ex-depot price of HSD was set at Rs289.71 per litre against the existing Rs296.71. The retail price at petrol pump would, however, be well above 290.50. Likewise, the ex-depot price of kerosene was set at Rs201.16 per liter against the existing Rs204.98. The ex-depot rate for light diesel oil was fixed at Rs175.93 per litre instead of Rs180.45. At present, the government is charging about Rs80 per litre tax on both petrol and HSD. Although general sales tax (GST) is zero on all petroleum products, the government is charging Rs60 per litre PDL on both products.