Pakistan Raises Petrol to Rs380.24, Diesel to Rs409.42 Per Litre

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has increased petrol and high-speed diesel prices again, taking petrol to Rs380.24 per litre and diesel to Rs409.42 per litre from September 15. The latest adjustment adds Rs4.42 to the price of a litre of petrol and Rs6.10 to high-speed diesel, extending a succession of increases that has pushed domestic fuel costs sharply higher.

The revision was announced through a notification issued by the Ministry of Energy's Petroleum Division after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority reviewed ex-depot petroleum prices under the government's existing pricing mechanism. Petrol had previously been priced at Rs375.82 per litre, while high-speed diesel stood at Rs403.32 per litre.

The latest change marks the sixth consecutive increase in petroleum prices. In the immediately preceding review, which took effect on September 12, petrol and diesel had already been raised to the levels that remained in force before Monday night's announcement. The new adjustment therefore adds another layer of costs for motorists and businesses that depend heavily on road transport.

The increase comes during renewed volatility in international energy markets. Global crude prices climbed more than 2% on Monday as attacks affecting shipping routes and Saudi energy infrastructure intensified concerns about supplies from the Middle East. Brent crude futures rose $2.72, or 2.6%, to $107.33 a barrel during trading, while US West Texas Intermediate gained $2.51, or 2.5%, to $102.56 a barrel.

Fresh regional security developments have heightened those concerns. Yemen's Houthis said they launched dozens of missiles and drones at a Saudi military airbase in Khamis Mushait. Separately, an attack on Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline forced changes to crude shipment routes, adding pressure to a market already sensitive to disruptions around major Middle Eastern energy corridors.

The pipeline disruption has increased attention on the security of alternative export routes as uncertainty continues around the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi crude shipments have been redirected through the Red Sea in response to the disruption, while market participants assess the risk that continued attacks could affect a meaningful share of global oil flows. These developments have helped keep international prices above the $100-a-barrel level.

For Pakistan, which is exposed to movements in international petroleum markets, the increase means higher direct fuel expenditure for households using cars and motorcycles and additional operating costs for transport-dependent businesses. High-speed diesel is particularly important for freight and commercial transport, meaning sustained increases can affect the cost structure of moving goods across the country even when the immediate adjustment appears modest on a per-litre basis.

The next direction for domestic petroleum prices will depend heavily on developments in international crude markets, regional supply security and the government's pricing calculations. With global energy markets remaining volatile and Middle East tensions continuing to influence supply expectations, consumers and businesses will be watching upcoming petroleum reviews closely for signs of either further increases or relief.