Petrol prices are expected to increase in Pakistan

The burden on people’s wallets is about to get heavier as the expected rise in petrol prices looms ahead. Reports suggest that in the upcoming review of petroleum prices, petrol prices may skyrocket by around Rs10 per litre, hitting the already struggling masses hard amidst rising inflation.

Industry insiders point to the surge in international crude oil prices as the main culprit behind this anticipated increase. It’s estimated that petrol prices could climb up to Rs289.69 per litre from the current Rs279.75 per litre.

On the other side, there’s a slight relief expected for consumers of high-speed diesel (HSD) as its price might dip by Rs1.30 per litre to Rs284.26 from the current Rs285.86 per litre. Similarly, kerosene prices might see a minor decrease of Rs0.17 per litre to Rs188.49, and the price of light diesel oil (LDO) could go up by Rs0.45 per litre to Rs168.63.

The reason behind this impending rise, as explained by officials, is the upward trend in global petrol prices. Over the past weeks, the international price of petrol has surged to per barrel, up from per barrel earlier in March.

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Conversely, the decline in global HSD prices could translate into a drop in prices domestically as well. With global HSD prices falling to per barrel recently, consumers in Pakistan might witness a decrease of over a rupee in HSD prices.

Industry experts reassure that the stability in the exchange rate over the past month is unlikely to significantly impact local fuel prices. These prices are recalibrated every 15 days based on global rates and exchange rates.


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The final verdict on fuel prices will be announced by the federal government on Sunday, to be implemented from April 1. This comes after a period where petrol prices remained stagnant while HSD prices saw a notable decrease in the last review.