A senior aide to Prime Minister Huzefa Rehman has linked the latest surge in petrol and diesel prices to weak tax collection, saying the government had to rely on petroleum levies to generate revenue.

Responding to criticism over rising fuel costs, the prime minister’s special assistant said that insufficient tax payments from the public left authorities with little choice but to recover funds through fuel levies.

The federal government on Friday approved another sharp increase in fuel prices for the next seven-day pricing period. Under the new notification, the price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 per litre, while petrol prices have gone up by Rs. 14.92 per litre.

After the adjustment, diesel will be sold at Rs. 414.58 per litre, while petrol has reached Rs. 414.78 per litre nationwide.

The latest hike is expected to further raise transportation expenses and push up the cost of essential goods, adding to inflationary pressures already affecting households and businesses across the country.