Petrol Prices in Pakistan increased again on Wednesday as the government raised the rates of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs6.39 and Rs7.83 per litre, respectively, while successfully persuading petrol pump owners to postpone a planned nationwide strike.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has increased to Rs327.12 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) now costs Rs375.04 per litre.

The latest increase marks the third consecutive fuel price revision since the government introduced a daily petroleum pricing mechanism last week in response to volatile global oil markets triggered by renewed tensions in the Middle East.

Under the new policy, the government calculates fuel prices using a seven-day average of international oil prices, bringing Pakistan’s pricing mechanism closer to international market practices.

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Petrol pump owners postpone strike

The price revision came hours after the government and the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) reached an agreement to postpone the association’s planned nationwide shutdown for two weeks.

Following talks with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, the association agreed to suspend its strike after receiving assurances that its long-standing demands would be addressed.

Speaking at a joint press conference, APPPOA Secretary Nadeem Khan said the association decided to defer the protest because of the worsening regional security situation and the potential impact on the public.

“We reconsidered our decision in view of the ongoing regional crisis and the hardships people are facing,” Khan said.

He added that the government had formally committed in writing to review dealers’ profit margins, a demand that has remained unresolved since 2022.

Khan also said the government agreed to operate the new daily fuel pricing mechanism on a two-week trial basis before evaluating its effectiveness and deciding whether to continue or revise the system.

The association expressed confidence that the government would resolve its commission-related concerns during the review period and said postponing the strike would help prevent inconvenience for consumers.

Government promises greater transparency

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik acknowledged the challenges created by rising international oil prices for both consumers and fuel retailers.

He thanked petrol pump owners, their representative body and oil marketing companies for cooperating with the government during a period of regional uncertainty.

The minister said the Middle East conflict had increased pressure on global oil markets, making transparent decision-making more important than ever.

Malik also announced that, with support from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the government will begin publishing a detailed Urdu-language breakdown of every component contributing to petroleum price adjustments on the regulator’s website to improve transparency and public awareness.