Govt raises petrol price by Rs4.61 per litre, reduces HSD rate by Rs1.96

Dawn reported that the federal government increased petrol prices by Rs4.61 per litre on Monday, while the high-speed diesel (HSD) rate was cut by Rs1.96 per litre. Under the revised rates, petrol will sell at Rs393.75 per litre and HSD at Rs422.08 per litre, with the new figures applying from Tuesday, September 22. Petrol still carries Rs114 of taxes and duties per litre, against Rs100 on diesel.

HSD has eased from its April 3 peak of Rs520.35, having climbed from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war began on February 28. Petrol similarly topped out at Rs458.41 on April 3, after rising from Rs266 in early March. On July 17, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said fuel rates would be set daily, with Ogra given that responsibility based on international market trends.

On September 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled a relief scheme for motorcycle, auto and vehicle users up to 800cc to offset higher global oil prices. Two- and three-wheeler owners will get Rs100 per litre relief on up to 20 litres monthly, while owners of vehicles up to 800cc will receive the same on 30 litres. Separately, markets must now close by 9pm, and official vehicles face a 50 per cent cut in fuel allocations for three months.