What happened

According to a report by Dawn, the government has updated national fuel prices, increasing petrol by Rs1.82 per litre while lowering high-speed diesel (HSD) by Re0.91 per litre. A notification from the Petroleum Division confirmed that the adjusted rates became effective on Thursday, October 8.

Under the new pricing structure, petrol sells at Rs396.65 per litre and HSD costs Rs394.94 per litre. Dawn reported that the government continues to collect Rs114 per litre in duties and taxes on petrol, alongside Rs100 per litre on diesel.

Key facts

  • Price trends: Petrol previously reached a peak of Rs458.41 per litre on April 3 after rising from Rs266 in early March. On the same date, HSD peaked at Rs520.35 per litre, having climbed from Rs281 following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict on February 28.
  • Daily pricing: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on July 17 that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) would adjust fuel prices daily based on global market movements, replacing a weekly revision system established in March.
  • Austerity and relief measures: The government brought back energy conservation steps amid Middle East tensions, ordering markets to shut by 9pm and reducing official vehicle fuel quotas by 50 per cent for three months. Prior relief efforts include an April targeted subsidy program and a September 13 scheme introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles under 800cc.

Why it matters

Dawn noted that petrol price shifts primarily impact middle and lower-middle-income citizens who rely on small cars, rickshaws, and two-wheelers. Conversely, adjustments to HSD affect the wider public, as the fuel is heavily utilized in commercial heavy transport, power generation facilities, and large industrial generators.

Furthermore, petrol and HSD generate significant government revenue, with combined monthly sales reaching between 700,000 and 800,000 tonnes, compared to a monthly demand of 10,000 tonnes for kerosene.

📰 Read the Original Report

Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 07, 2026 · Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash