Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has imposed an immediate ban on the use of high-octane fuel in all government vehicles, according to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. The move is part of broader austerity measures aimed at ensuring efficient use of national resources.
Alongside the ban, the government has significantly increased the petroleum levy on high-octane fuel. As per the latest notification, the levy has been raised by Rs200 per litre, bringing it to over Rs300 per litre and pushing the overall price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) to around Rs535 per litre. This decision was approved during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister.
Under the new policy, government departments are strictly prohibited from using high-octane fuel at the state’s expense. In exceptional cases where its use is unavoidable, officials will be required to bear the cost personally. Authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the ban and develop a monitoring system to ensure compliance, with strict action promised against violations.
The initiative builds on earlier steps taken by the government, including a 50% reduction in fuel allocation for official vehicles and the grounding of nearly 60% of the government fleet. Savings generated from these measures have reportedly been redirected to provide relief to the public and support affordable fuel supply.
The government expects the latest decision to save billions of rupees each month. Officials clarified that the increased levy applies only to high-octane fuel typically used in luxury vehicles, while petrol prices for regular consumers, as well as transport fares, will remain unchanged.
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