The federal government has cut the price of petrol by 66 paisas a litre and raised high-speed diesel by 52 paisas in the latest Pakistan petrol price revision, the Express Tribune reported.
The Petroleum Division issued the notification late on Friday. Petrol now costs Rs398.30 a litre, down from Rs398.96, while high-speed diesel rises to Rs396.24 a litre from Rs395.72. The revised rates apply till October 12, covering the weekend.
How the Pakistan petrol price moved this week
The daily mechanism has produced a string of small adjustments this week, with the two fuels often moving in opposite directions, including the October 9 morning revision that had taken petrol to Rs398.96:
| Date | Petrol (Rs/L) | Diesel (Rs/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 | 394.83 (+1.19) | 395.85 (-1.91) |
| Oct 8 | 396.65 (+1.82) | 394.94 (-0.91) |
| Oct 9 | 398.96 (+2.31) | 395.72 (+0.78) |
| Oct 10-12 | 398.30 (-0.66) | 396.24 (+0.52) |
The October 8 revision had taken petrol to Rs396.65 while cutting diesel by 91 paisas, and the October 7 revision raised petrol by Rs1.19 while cutting diesel by Rs1.91. The figures include Rs114 a litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 a litre on diesel.
Why prices are moving daily
Pakistan fixes fuel prices on a daily basis since July 17, when the federal cabinet handed the job to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority. The regulator sets ex-depot prices each day based on a rolling seven-day average of international petroleum prices, along with Platts rates, premiums and other import costs.
The system replaced a weekly mechanism introduced in early March, which itself had replaced the long-standing fortnightly review. The government says daily fixing passes changes in world oil markets to consumers faster and improves transparency.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has linked the current volatility to hostilities in the Middle East, where Vitol has warned oil could hit $200 a barrel as the Hormuz tanker crisis deepens, which have kept global crude prices elevated. Brent crude has been trading above $100 a barrel this week.
Who feels it first
Petrol feeds straight into household budgets. It runs private cars, motorcycles and rickshaws, and September data showed transport costs up more than 27 percent on the year, with short-term inflation at 11.97pc. A motorcyclist filling ten litres a week now pays well over a thousand rupees more a month than in early September.
Diesel moves the freight economy. It powers the trucks that carry flour, vegetables and milk, and runs farm tubewells and tractors. When diesel crossed Rs400 earlier this month, fares and food prices followed.
The daily mechanism itself remains unpopular with the fuel trade. The All Pakistan Dealers Association and the Transport Goods Association have both rejected it, and the Jamaat-e-Islami has been protesting high fuel prices since August, demanding the petroleum levy be abolished.
Frequently asked questions
What are the new petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan?
Petrol costs Rs398.30 a litre after a 66-paisa cut, and high-speed diesel costs Rs396.24 after a 52-paisa increase, effective till October 12.
How are fuel prices decided in Pakistan now?
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority fixes ex-depot prices daily using a seven-day rolling average of international prices, Platts rates, premiums and import costs.
Why do petrol and diesel move in opposite directions?
The two fuels track different international benchmarks and cost structures, so a single day’s global market movement can push one up and the other down.
