The federal government has announced fresh increases in the prices of petrol, high-speed diesel, and kerosene while introducing a new daily fuel pricing system. The move marks a major shift in Pakistan’s petroleum pricing policy and means fuel prices can now change every day instead of following a weekly schedule.
According to a notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the price of petrol has been increased by Rs. 5.44 per litre, taking the new rate to Rs. 316.15 per litre. High-speed diesel has recorded a much larger increase of Rs. 31.05 per litre, pushing its price to Rs. 354.35 per litre.
The sharpest increase came in the price of kerosene oil, which has risen by Rs. 34.33 per litre. The new kerosene price now stands at Rs. 276.66 per litre, up from Rs. 242.33 per litre. The revised fuel prices came into effect at midnight on July 18 and will remain applicable until July 20.
The latest revision is the first to be implemented under the government’s newly introduced daily petroleum pricing mechanism. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that OGRA will no longer revise petroleum prices every seven days. Instead, fuel prices will now be determined on a daily basis and published on the regulator’s official website, with any increase or decrease immediately passed on to consumers.
The transition represents another significant change in Pakistan’s fuel pricing policy. Petroleum prices were previously revised on a monthly basis before the government switched to fortnightly adjustments and later adopted weekly revisions. The latest system now allows fuel prices to change every day in line with international oil market movements.
The new pricing mechanism is expected to affect transportation costs, logistics, agriculture, and the prices of essential goods. High-speed diesel is widely used for freight transport, public transport, and heavy machinery, meaning higher diesel prices could increase the cost of moving goods across the country and place additional pressure on inflation.
The Pakistan Petroleum Retailers Association has expressed serious concerns over the daily pricing system. Representatives of petrol pump owners said dealers are already operating on narrow commission margins of only Rs. 6.50 to Rs. 7.00 per litre. They warned that daily price changes could expose petrol stations to financial losses if fuel purchased at higher rates has to be sold after a sudden price reduction.
The introduction of daily fuel pricing is expected to make petroleum prices more responsive to global market trends. However, consumers and businesses may face greater uncertainty as fuel costs become more volatile, making budgeting and operational planning increasingly difficult.
Also read: Pakistan Begins Islamabad Airport Outsourcing Process
