Pakistan Assures IMF of Rs 10,780 Billion Collection via Petroleum Surcharge Over Next 5 Years

Islamabad – The Pakistani government has given fresh assurances to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding aggressive revenue collection through petroleum surcharges and levies, according to official sources.
The government has set a target to collect Rs 10,780 billion (Rs 10.78 trillion) from the public over the next five years under the head of petroleum surcharge/levy. This ambitious plan is part of commitments made to secure continued IMF support and meet fiscal targets under the ongoing loan programme.
Critics and economists have raised concerns that this strategy will place a heavy burden on ordinary citizens, as petroleum levy is a non-tax revenue that directly impacts fuel prices, transportation costs, and ultimately the cost of almost every commodity in the country.
The move comes as the government prepares the federal budget for FY 2026-27, where the IMF has already suggested a significant hike in petroleum levy targets (around 18% increase for the next fiscal year alone). This approach is seen as an easy-to-collect revenue source but one that disproportionately affects the middle and lower-income groups.