Lead
The Pakistani government has announced a daily revision of fuel prices, with petrol increasing by Rs3.66 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4.80 per litre, effective July 25. According to a Petroleum Division notification, the new prices are: petrol at Rs335.18 per litre and HSD at Rs383.46 per litre. The government attributes the increase to fluctuating global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf.
The revision is part of a shift to daily price adjustments, announced earlier by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. The 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. He added that Ogra would publish not only the fuel rates on its website but also the factors leading to the price at each petrol pump.
Coverage Comparison
Dawn's reporting on the price changes spans multiple days, reflecting the rapid adjustments. On July 18, the government increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs5.44 and Rs31.05 per litre, respectively, citing higher import premiums and global prices following renewed regional tensions. On July 21, petrol rose by Rs4.93 and HSD by Rs7.15 per litre. A further increase on July 24 saw petrol up by Rs4.40 and HSD by Rs3.62 per litre. The July 25 increase of Rs3.66 and Rs4.80 per litre is the latest in this sequence.
The reports also note that on July 28, petrol was decreased by Re1 and HSD increased by Rs3.77 per litre, and on July 29, petrol rose by Rs1.63 and HSD by Rs1.55 per litre. On July 26 and 27, prices were kept unchanged due to the non-publication of Platts prices on weekends, with the July 25 prices remaining applicable.
The government is currently charging a total of Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 on diesel, according to Dawn's reports.
Key Claims
- Petrol price increased by Rs3.66 per litre and HSD by Rs4.80 per litre, effective July 25.
- New prices: petrol Rs335.18 per litre, HSD Rs383.46 per litre.
- Government charges Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 on diesel.
- Prices were kept unchanged for July 26 and 27 due to non-publication of Platts prices on weekends.
- The government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel prices since early March.
- Diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3.
- Petrol price peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs266 in the first week of March.
- Petrol and high-speed diesel are major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes.
- The daily pricing decision was rejected by the All Pakistan Dealers Association, which said it would consider a protest plan.