Govt maintains petrol price, cuts diesel rate by Rs3 per litre

Employees at a fuel station attend to their customers in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 16, 2022. — AFP/File

Pakistan Keeps Petrol Price Steady, Cuts Diesel Rate by Rs3 Per Litre

Pakistan Keeps Petrol Price Unchanged, Cuts Diesel by Rs 3 per Litre for Next Fortnight

Pakistan maintains petrol at Rs 264.61 per litre while slashing high-speed diesel by Rs 3 (now Rs 269.99). Kerosene and light diesel prices also reduced—effective Sept 1–15.

Employees at a fuel station attend to their customers in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 16, 2022. — AFP/FileThe government has maintained the petrol price and cut the diesel by Rs3 per litre for the next 15 days, as per an official notification issued on Sunday.The new prices will be...

A bit of relief has arrived at the pump for transporters and businesses. Starting September 1, Pakistan’s government has decided to keep petrol prices unchanged while reducing the rate of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs 3 per litre, effective for the next fortnight. 

The latest notification from the Finance Division sets high-speed diesel at Rs 269.99 per litre, down from Rs 272.99. Meanwhile, petrol, vital for daily commuters and small vehicles, remains fixed at Rs 264.61 per litre, offering stability to middle- and lower-income households. 

Additionally, Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) has been reduced by Rs 1.46 to Rs 176.81, and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) is down by Rs 2.40 to Rs 159.76 per litre.

Who Benefits and Why It Matters

For everyday drivers, this latest decision provides a small but welcome respite from rising fuel costs. Petrol price stability ensures that motorbike riders, rickshaw drivers, and small car owners can keep their travel budgets under control.

For the transport and agricultural sectors—reliant on diesel—the reduction is especially impactful. Diesel fuels trucks, buses, trains, farm tractors, and even tube wells. Lower diesel costs could ease the financial burden on transporters and small farmers, potentially preventing further inflation in vegetable and food prices.

Transparency remains key: The government based its price revision on recommendations from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and peer ministries, aligning with international oil price trends and domestic financial considerations.

This marks the second consecutive diesel cut, even as petrol rates remain stable—a sign that authorities recognize the broader economic reverberations tied to diesel pricing.

What Lies Ahead

The revised prices apply to the fortnight from September 1 to 15, giving consumers and businesses a short-term window of relief. The next review will likely align with similar global shifts in oil markets, exchange rates, and fiscal planning.

For now, the reduction in diesel reflects a pragmatic attempt to mitigate inflationary pressures and provide tangible support to critical sectors of Pakistan’s economy—without shifting costs onto consumers at the pump.