Pakistan’s petrol prices have come under renewed criticism after the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) called on the federal government to end the daily fuel pricing mechanism. The association said frequent revisions create uncertainty, push inflation higher and place additional financial pressure on millions of households across the country.

Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman of the Consumers Association of Pakistan, said families already face rising electricity and gas tariffs, higher prices of essential goods and an increasing cost of living. He argued that daily changes in petrol and diesel prices have made it difficult for consumers to manage their household budgets.

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Iqbal said every increase in fuel prices quickly leads to higher transport fares and increased prices of food, medicines and other essential commodities. However, he claimed that consumers rarely receive the full benefit when fuel prices fall, allowing profiteering and market exploitation to continue.

He also said businesses and industries have raised concerns about the current pricing system. According to him, constant fuel price adjustments create uncertainty in production costs, transportation expenses and investment planning, making it harder for companies to operate efficiently.

The CAP chairman urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the existing petroleum pricing mechanism and restore a monthly fuel pricing system. He said a predictable pricing model would help reduce inflationary pressure, improve consumer confidence and provide greater economic stability.

Iqbal also called on federal and provincial authorities to strengthen monitoring of transport fares and market prices. He urged regulators to prevent retailers, transport operators and traders from exploiting consumers by citing fuel price fluctuations.

He said protecting consumers should remain a national priority, adding that a transparent and stable fuel pricing system would support sustainable economic growth while easing the financial burden on the public.