What happened

According to a report by Dawn, the government has reduced the price of petrol by Rs2.93 per litre while increasing the rate of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Re0.61 per litre. A Petroleum Division notification states that the updated pricing takes effect on Tuesday, Oct 13. Following the adjustment, retail prices stand at Rs395.37 per litre for petrol and Rs396.85 per litre for HSD. The government continues to apply taxes and duties amounting to Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.

Key facts

  • Dawn reports that fuel costs have experienced significant fluctuations linked to Middle East hostilities that broke out on February 28.
  • HSD prices previously rose from Rs281 per litre to a peak of Rs520.35 on April 3, while petrol climbed from Rs266 in early March to hit a peak of Rs458.41 on April 3.
  • Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on July 17 that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) was tasked with fixing prices on a daily basis due to international market movements, shifting away from weekly revisions used since early March.
  • To control fuel consumption, the government reintroduced austerity measures, including mandating a 9pm market closing time and reducing fuel allocations for official vehicles by 50 percent for three months.
  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a relief initiative on September 13 targeting users of motorcycles, autos, and vehicles up to 800cc. Exact financial details of this scheme are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, petrol price shifts directly impact middle and lower-middle-class consumers who rely on small cars, rickshaws, and two-wheelers. Meanwhile, diesel price changes affect the wider economy because HSD is heavily utilized in power plants, large generators, and heavy transport. Petrol and HSD constitute the primary petroleum revenue drivers, generating monthly sales of 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to 10,000 tonnes in monthly kerosene demand.

📰 Read the Original Report

Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 12, 2026 · Photo by Intrepid on Unsplash