Diesel price nears Rs400 as govt adds over a rupee to petrol, HSD rates

The government has set petrol at Rs377.91 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) at Rs399.82 from Thursday, Oct 29, Dawn reported. The new rates reflect increases of Rs1.85 for petrol and Rs1.75 for HSD, bringing diesel close to Rs400.

Petrol carries Rs114 per litre in government taxes and duties, while the corresponding amount on diesel is Rs100. A government-Jamaat-i-Islami committee is to examine expanding the existing fuel support scheme for motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles up to 800cc; JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has also threatened a mid-November Islamabad protest if substantial relief is not announced.

The revision comes as both fuels remain below their April 3 peaks: HSD reached Rs520.35 and petrol Rs458.41. The government has also reinstated measures requiring markets to shut by 9pm and reducing official vehicle fuel allocations by half for three months.