POL prices likely to remain unchanged

The government may leave ex-depot prices of petrol and high-speed diesel unchanged at current levels for the first half of January 2023. Claims of exchange loss by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) are estimated at Rs5.50 per litre on petrol and Rs3.50 on diesel. PSO imports petroleum products during which it faces rupee-dollar exchange loss. The government allows the recovery of exchange loss in petroleum product prices. However, at times, PSO is denied the recovery of exchange loss in a bid to keep petroleum prices unchanged and avoid political backlash.