Latest increase takes petrol to Rs391.22 and HSD to Rs421.45 per litre, pushing cumulative hikes since September 8 to Rs45.35 and Rs43.40 respectively
ISLAMABAD: Petrol and high-speed diesel prices have surged again, with petrol rising by Rs6.88 and HSD by Rs5.62 per litre, taking their cumulative increases since September 8 to Rs45.35 and Rs43.40 respectively and further intensifying the fuel burden on consumers.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has determined the ex-depot prices of petroleum products applicable for September 17, 2026, amid elevated international crude oil and petroleum product prices.
Under the latest revision, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs6.88 per litre to Rs391.22 from Rs384.34, while the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has risen by Rs5.62 to Rs421.45 from Rs415.83 per litre.
The latest prices are applicable for September 17, 2026. The Petroleum Division said the increase was primarily linked to higher petrol and diesel prices in the international market, while changes in Platts rates, premiums and other relevant factors also contributed to the revision.
The latest hike represents another substantial increase for consumers after repeated upward revisions under the daily petroleum pricing mechanism. Petrol has now crossed the Rs390-per-litre mark, while HSD has moved above Rs420 per litre.
Since September 8, when petrol was priced at Rs345.87 per litre and HSD at Rs378.05 per litre, petrol has increased by Rs45.35 per litre to Rs391.22, while HSD has risen by Rs43.40 per litre to Rs421.45. This means petrol has become more expensive by more than Rs45 per litre and diesel by more than Rs43 per litre in the period since the latest round of price increases began.
The latest increase is likely to further raise the daily travelling expenses of millions of consumers, particularly motorcycle users and households dependent on petrol-powered cars and three-wheelers. Petrol is widely used in motorcycles, cars, rickshaws and other light vehicles, making its price directly relevant to household mobility costs.
The Rs6.88 per litre increase in petrol will also add to the operating expenses of taxis, ride-hailing services, delivery businesses and other users of light vehicles. Businesses and individuals unable to absorb the additional cost may eventually pass part of the burden on through higher fares and service charges.
The impact of the HSD increase is potentially wider because diesel is extensively used by trucks, buses, tractors, heavy vehicles and commercial transport. With HSD now priced at Rs421.45 per litre, transport operators face significantly higher fuel expenses for moving goods and passengers.
Higher diesel prices can increase freight and logistics costs as trucks transport agricultural produce, food items, industrial raw materials and consumer goods from farms and factories to markets across the country. Any sustained rise in transportation costs can add pressure to prices throughout the supply chain.
The agriculture sector is also directly exposed to HSD prices because tractors and other farm machinery rely heavily on diesel. Farmers also depend on diesel-powered transport to move agricultural produce to markets, meaning the latest increase can add to cultivation, harvesting and transportation expenses.
Public transport operators, including buses, coaches and vans, will likewise face higher operating costs. Any attempt to adjust fares in response to increased fuel expenses could add to the financial burden on commuters.
Businesses with vehicle fleets and distribution networks are also likely to face higher logistics costs. Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors depend on fuel-powered transportation to move goods between production facilities, warehouses and markets.
The repeated increases are particularly significant because they have taken place through successive daily revisions rather than a single adjustment. Petrol has risen by Rs45.35 per litre since September 8, while HSD has increased by Rs43.40 per litre over the same period.
The latest revision comes as international crude oil and petroleum product prices remain elevated amid global uncertainty. The Petroleum Division has linked the domestic changes primarily to international market prices, with Platts rates, premiums and other relevant factors also incorporated into the pricing calculation.
The latest surge also comes amid the government’s targeted fuel relief programme for eligible users of motorcycles, rickshaws, other two- and three-wheelers and cars up to 800cc. However, the broad-based increase in petroleum prices means consumers outside the relief programme, as well as transport operators, farmers and businesses, continue to face higher fuel costs.
With petrol reaching Rs391.22 and HSD Rs421.45 per litre, the latest revision has taken domestic fuel prices to new highs in the current series, placing additional pressure on household budgets, transportation expenses, agricultural operations and business costs.