LPG producers seek end to tax disparity

ISLAMABAD: A lobbying group of domestic oil and gas explorers has again approached the government, complaining that importers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are pocketing billions of rupees due to tax waivers granted by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration. The previous government had issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) that exempted LPG imports from regulatory duty and slashed general sales tax (GST). With the relief in duty, the LPG importers are believed to have got a windfall of around Rs20 billion.
This has not only hit the national exchequer in terms of lost duty and taxes, but also distorted the LPG policy for state-run energy giants like Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). Government of Pakistan is a major shareholder in these companies.-PNP