Govt increases petrol by Rs1.09, HSD by Rs2.42

The government on Thursday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.09 and Rs2.42 per litre, respectively, passing on the impact of fluctuating global oil prices amid ongoing Middle East tensions.

Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs336.15 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs393.04 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 per litre on diesel. The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable for July 31 (Friday).

The diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3, after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs281 per litre when the US-Iran war broke out on February 28. Similarly, petrol had peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after rising from Rs266 in the first week of March.

Earlier, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US. The government had been announcing weekly revisions since early March, alongside conservation measures amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In April, the federal government also announced targeted relief measures to provide subsidised fuel.

The petroleum minister stated that the cabinet and the prime minister had decided to give the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) the responsibility of deciding fuel prices on a daily basis based on international market trends. The daily pricing decision was rejected by the All Pakistan Dealers Association, which said it would consider a protest plan this week.

Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes. Similarly, diesel price changes impact the public at large, as it is primarily used in the heavy transport sector, power plants and large generators. Petrol and HSD are the major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene.