ISLAMABAD, April 15: The prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged for the next 15 days, it was officially announced by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).

The decision was taken after the issuance of a statutory regulatory order that notified the petroleum development levy and inland freight equalisation margin recommended by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC).

The ex-depot prices of petrol at Rs56.29 per litre, high octane blending component (HOBC) at Rs62.77 per litre, kerosene oil at Rs32.87 and light diesel oil at Rs30.97 per litre would remain unchanged. The prices of JP-1 stand at Rs35.86 and that of JP-4 at 37.85 per litre.

The government would, however, continue to charge Rs13.86 per litre petroleum levy on petrol, Rs17.81 per litre on HOBC and zero petroleum levy on kerosene and light diesel oil. The government would also continue to charge 15 per cent sales tax on all petroleum products.

The notification said that the average price of naphtha in the Gulf market increased by 5.08 per cent, diesel by 9.92 per cent, kerosene by 6.19 per cent and of HSFO by 2.08 per cent. However, the federal government had decided not to pass on the increase to consumers.

As such, the oil companies would charge Rs2.3 per litre on petrol, Rs2.85 on HOBC, Rs1.75 on Kerosene oil and Rs1.77 per litre on light diesel oil. The dealers would be allowed Rs1.59, Rs1.77, Rs0.96 and Rs0.91 per litre on petrol, HOBC, kerosene and light diesel oil, respectively.