Petroleum levy collection hits record Rs1.57tr

• Cost of running civil govt rises 16pc, crosses Rs1tr for first time • Fiscal deficit shrinks to 2.6pc on the back of provincial surpluses, lower interest bill • Defence spending up 18pc; primary surplus reaches record 2.9pc of GDP ISLAMABAD: With a record Rs1.567 trillion petroleum levy collection amid record consumer-end oil prices following US-Israel attacks on Iran, the cost of running the civil government rose 16 per cent in the fiscal year 2025-26 to cross Rs1tr for the first time despite restructuring and austerity measures, official data showed on Thursday. At the same time, record cash surpluses from the provinces and a sharp fall in interest payments helped contain the fiscal…