ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Division on Friday announced new fuel prices effective from July 18 to July 20, highlighted by a sharp hike in high speed diesel (HSD) and a slight increase in petrol.
The price of HSD jumped by Rs 31.05 per litre, rising from Rs 323.30 to Rs 354.35. Whereas, petrol prices increased by Rs 5.44 per litre, bringing the new rate to Rs 316.15 per litre.
Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Friday that the government has taken another step towards deregulation; OGRA will announce petroleum prices daily, based on Platts’ 7-day moving average data.
READ MORE: Petrol price surges by Rs13.18, HSD’s by Rs13.80
OGRA will publish all international benchmarks & detailed calculation sheets on its website. Government to fix fuel prices daily due to renewed hostilities in Persian Gulf, the minister said.
The decision has faced immediate backlash from key industry stakeholders. The All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association rejected the deregulation policy, warning it could disrupt fuel transportation, oil tanker operations, and the current pricing system. They urged the government to consult stakeholders before finalizing the move.
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) expressed serious concerns, stating that the retail sector is not ready for such a major shift. They warned that daily price changes would complicate stock valuation, inventory management, and cash flow. Additionally, they cautioned that the move could hurt dealers’ margins, trigger market uncertainty, and confuse consumers.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026