Pakistanis, Lankans pay less for oil, more for LPG

Indian consumers are being charged the highest for petrol and diesel compared with their neighbours in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

However, because of subsidy, he is paying the lowest for domestic LPG and kerosene.

According to data available with the petroleum ministry, on November 5, 2003, a consumer in Delhi was paying 18.77 per cent more for petrol than the consumer in Karachi, 19.21 per cent more than in Dhaka, 21.99 per cent more than in Colombo, and 0.16 per cent more than in Kathmandu.

Regarding diesel, the retail prices in Delhi were 12.01 per cent higher than those in Karachi, 21.34 per cent more than in Dhaka, 26.51 per cent higher than in Colombo, and 7.91 per cent more than in Kathmandu.

This is despite the fact that India produces more crude oil than any of its neighbouring countries.

This implies that comparatively, even at 31 per cent, India's self-sufficiency level with regard to oil is higher than that of its neighbours.

But, since the government is subsidising domestic LPG and kerosene, their prices in India are the lowest.

Like, on November 5, 2003, subsidised kerosene in Delhi was 87.68 per cent cheaper than in Karachi, 37.85 per cent less than in Dhaka, 21.42 per cent less than in Colombo, and 30.08 per cent cheaper than in Kathmandu.