ISLAMABAD:
Amid Gulf tensions that may lead to a further hike in oil prices, the government on Saturday increased the price of petrol by Rs8 per litre with effect from March 1, 2026. It also raised the price of diesel by Rs5.16 per litre for the next fortnight, up to March 15.
As international markets have inched upwards, the government increased the prices based on calculations made by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
The new per-litre price of petrol is Rs266.17, while diesel will cost Rs280.86.
However, despite the war in the Middle East, the oil industry on Saturday assured the government that Pakistan holds ample stocks of crude oil and petroleum products, and there is no immediate risk of supply disruption despite the evolving security situation in the Gulf region.
Sources in the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) said that the key fuel for both civil and military aviation is jet fuel, and its stock has been maintained above normal levels, mainly by the Pakistan Air Force and Army Aviation.
The Petroleum Division, in a statement, said that the government had increased petroleum product prices following the recommendations of OGRA.
High-Speed diesel (HSD) is used in the agriculture and transport sectors. The increase in its price is likely to fuel further inflation in the country.
Petrol is used in motorbikes and cars, and its consumption has nearly doubled due to the ban on the use of indigenous gas in the CNG sector, especially in Punjab.
Oil marketing companies (OMCs) recorded combined sales of over one million tonnes of petrol and diesel during February 2026. Petrol sales stood at 588,000 metric tonnes, while diesel sales amounted to 476,000 metric tonnes during the month.
The daily sale volume of petrol stood at 21,000 metric tonnes, while High-Speed Diesel sales were 17,000 metric tonnes per day. In January 2026, petrol sales stood at 641,000 tonnes, up 3% year-on-year and 2% month-on-month.
High-Speed Diesel sales reached 664,000 tonnes, marking an 11% annual increase and a 20% monthly rise as freight and agricultural demand improved.
Analysts said lower fuel prices and post-strike recovery lifted Pakistan’s petroleum sales to 1.52 million tonnes in January, up 10% year-on-year and 12% month-on-month, according to industry data.
They added that the country had also witnessed record car production in recent months, which further boosted petrol demand.
Pakistan’s petroleum product sales climbed to 1.52 million tonnes in January 2026, rebounding from December’s nationwide strike and reflecting lower pump prices that spurred transport and industrial demand.
Sale volumes jumped 10% from a year earlier and 12% from December, according to industry figures compiled from oil marketing company disclosures.
Cumulative sales during JulyJanuary FY26 touched 9.7 million tonnes, up 3% from 9.4 million tonnes in the same period last year.
