ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday announced another increase in the prices of petroleum products, with petrol hiked by Rs4.07 per litre, setting the new rate at Rs268.68, while high-speed diesel (HSD) saw a rise of Rs4.04, reaching Rs276.81 per litre. The revised prices will come into effect from October 1, 2025, for the next fortnight.
The fresh hike follows the previous fortnight’s upward revision when the price of HSD was raised by Rs2.78 per litre, from Rs269.99 to Rs272.77. The back-to-back increases have sparked fresh concerns over inflationary pressures, particularly as higher diesel rates directly impact transportation and agricultural costs, feeding into the overall price spiral.
Government officials cited international market trends as the key driver behind the latest adjustment. However, critics argue that frequent revisions have compounded the financial strain on households already grappling with record-high food prices, elevated utility tariffs, and stagnant incomes.
Energy sector analysts had earlier forecast a price surge in petroleum products from October 1, citing rising global crude benchmarks. The forecast, widely reported by sections of the media, materialised with Tuesday’s official notification, underscoring the limited fiscal space available to the government in shielding domestic consumers from global shocks.
Opposition parties and trade bodies, meanwhile, criticised the government for what they described as insensitivity to the economic hardships faced by the public, warning that the recurring hikes risk fuelling unrest and further eroding consumer confidence.
With no respite in sight, the fortnightly petroleum price review has increasingly become a barometer of the state’s economic fragility and a source of growing public frustration.