Petrol is a price that is determined, like in any other country, by a combination of local and international considerations. In reality, the determination of the petrol price is highly complex and internationally linked with oil markets, government policies, and economic conditions. Below are the key elements determining the pricing for petrol in Pakistan.
1. Global Oil Prices
The international crude price is the most significant single factor to affect petrol prices in Pakistan. Since a significant portion of its oil is imported, globally induced upswings are transferred down to the local consumers. The following factors impact:
– Supply and Demand: OPEC decisions on oil production, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters, and global economic conditions tend to cause wild swings in supply and demand curves.
- Exchange Rates: The factor of the value of Pakistan Rupee vis-à-vis United States Dollar plays a direct role in import cost. A weak Rupee makes oil imports costlier by increasing petrol prices locally.
2. Governmental Policies
The Pakistan government determines the price of petrol. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) recommends the prices of oil based on several factors
Import Parity Price: This is the price of imported petrol and its transportation and distribution costs. It provides a pricing framework to ensure that domestic prices are in line with the conditions of the international market.
Taxation: A majority of government taxes and levies significantly affect petrol pricing. They include the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) and General Sales Tax (GST). Therefore, the variance of these taxes directly affects the retail shelf price of petrol.
- Subsidies: The government can, at times, make attempts to subsidize the prices of petrol to curb the high level of international prices. Most often, it is done for political or economic reasons, especially when there are high inflation rates or financial hardships.
3. Distribution and Logistic Costs
The cost of transporting petrol from ports to refineries and then to petrol stations also affects the final price. This includes:
- Freight Charges: Expenses related to the movement of crude oil and refined products.
- Refinery Margins: The cost of refining crude oil into petrol, and includes operational costs and profit margins for refineries.
- Distribution costs: These are the costs incurred in distributing petrol from the refineries to the retail outlets. The price includes storage and handling charges.
4. Market Dynamics
The local market can equally influence local market conditions of petrol prices. For instance, there is competition between petrol service stations or differences in demand at the regional level. In regions where the demand for petroleum is high or competition is less, prices might be slightly higher.
5. Periodic Adjust
Pakistan’s petrol prices are reviewed bi-monthly and revised by OGRA. The adjustments are based on the latest international prices considering domestic considerations. These bi-monthly updates have been a step towards ensuring fuel prices are always at par with global trends and local economic conditions.
Conclusion
The reason is that determining petrol prices within a country like Pakistan is very complex, involving international crude oil prices, government policies, logistical costs, and market dynamics. An understanding of these elicits how complex an issue pricing petrol is. While the country is concerned with the roller-coaster ride of global oil prices and invigorates resilience in its economic structure, the management of petrol prices by the government remains at the core of its monetary policy.
