The federal government increased the price of high-speed diesel by Rs6 per litre, while petrol prices remained unchanged, the Ministry of Finance announced on late Saturday.
“Diesel prices have been increased by six rupees per litre following recommendations from the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the relevant ministries,” the ministry said. “Petrol prices remain unchanged to ease the burden on consumers.” Analysts said the increase could affect transportation and logistics costs, potentially pushing up prices of goods and services in the coming weeks.
The revised prices also reflect higher taxes, with consumers paying Rs80.52 per litre in petroleum levy and carbon tax on petrol, and Rs79.51 on HSD.
Meanwhile, fuel traders have warned that a manufactured shortage of high-speed diesel is affecting petrol pumps nationwide, calling on the government to act before conditions deteriorate, on Saturday.
In a letter to the OGRA chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Petrol Pump Dealers Association said oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been limiting diesel supplies for the past week.
According to the dealers, some companies are delivering very small amounts, while others are not supplying fuel at all. Because of this, many pumps are running dry and are unable to serve customers.
Dealers say they place orders that later get cancelled, and fuel trucks are left waiting for hours without being loaded. They believe the shortage is not natural but artificial, created by companies ahead of a possible increase in fuel prices expected later this month. The association said the supply cuts are so severe that stations are “hardly able to meet the public’s needs”. They have asked Ogra to direct OMCs to provide diesel based on each pump’s regular sales so that stations can operate normally again.
The letter, sent on November 14 by the association’s vice chairman, was also shared with senior officials, including the petroleum minister, the petroleum secretary, the director general oil, and the secretary of the Oil Companies Advisory Council.