Karachi, April 3, 2026 — Abdul Rehman Fudda, President of the SITE Association of Industry, has warned that the extraordinary hike in petroleum product (POL) prices will have a “360-degree impact” on the economy, driving up costs across all sectors and severely damaging industrial and export competitiveness.
Mr. Fudda said the latest increase was not triggered by international oil market trends but by government policy decisions. He explained that the withdrawal of the Price Differential Claim (PDC) subsidy of Rs95.59 per litre and an additional petroleum levy of Rs55.24 per litre had together imposed a burden of Rs150.83 per litre on consumers. “This is purely a result of levies, taxes, and war-related conditions,” he noted.
Abdul Rehman Fudda, President of the SITE Association of Industry,
Contrary to the hike, the ex-refinery base cost has actually declined. “The net ex-refinery price fell from Rs190.94 on March 7 to Rs177.36 on April 2 — a reduction of Rs13.58 per litre,” if subsidy doesn’t withdraw, Fudda pointed out. He recalled that when the government raised petrol prices on March 7, SITE had urged withdrawal of levies and taxes, which then stood at Rs118–121 per litre. “Now, levies and taxes alone amount to about Rs265 per litre,” he said.
The SITE chief warned that the steep increase would badly damage industries, particularly export-oriented production, at a time when exports are already declining. “This will not only erode foreign exchange earnings but also accelerate unemployment,” he cautioned.
Abdul Rehman Fudda further stressed that the common man, especially labourers and the service class, would struggle for survival under the new burden. “Anarchy will rise, and the government itself will be weakened by this decision,” he said.
