Pakistan petrol price may touch PKR 1,000 per litre amid supply concerns; Bangladesh raises fuel rates
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan could see petrol prices climb as high as PKR 1,000 per litre if the country faces a serious fuel shortage, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik said on Sunday, as rising international crude prices continue to put pressure on the domestic market.
Petrol is currently being sold at around PKR 389 per litre, while diesel costs about PKR 424 per litre, according to the figures cited by the minister. Petrol prices have risen sharply in recent months, adding to the financial pressure on consumers and businesses.
Malik said petrol prices have already increased by nearly 50 per cent. If supplies become tight, further increases could follow.
The surge has come amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed up global crude oil prices. When the conflict began on February 28, petrol in Pakistan was priced at approximately PKR 258.17 per litre. Since then, the price has risen by about PKR 131, representing an increase of roughly 51 per cent.
At the current exchange rate cited in the report, PKR 1,000 would be equivalent to around Rs 346 in Indian currency. Exchange rates fluctuate, so the rupee equivalent can change.
Pakistan offers fuel support to two-wheelers and small vehicles
With fuel costs climbing, the Pakistan government has introduced a subsidy programme aimed at people using motorcycles, rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc.
Under the scheme, eligible consumers can receive a subsidy of up to PKR 100 per litre. Each registered beneficiary is entitled to four tokens every month, with a subsidy of PKR 500 attached to each token.
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Motorcycles registered from January 1, 2006, are also covered under the programme.
According to the government, more than 1.75 million people have registered for the scheme. Around 1.5 million tokens have been issued, while more than 680,000 have already been used.
Pakistan looks to increase domestic oil production
The government is also stepping up efforts to find new oil reserves within the country. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik said work on oil wells has already begun and domestic crude could potentially be available by October.
Bangladesh raises petrol and diesel prices
Pakistan is not the only South Asian country facing higher fuel costs. Bangladesh has increased fuel prices by up to 17.4 per cent, with the revised rates coming into effect on Monday, September 21.
Under the new pricing structure, diesel has increased from Tk 115 to Tk 135 per litre. Petrol now costs Tk 160 per litre, up from Tk 140, while octane has risen from Tk 145 to Tk 165. Kerosene prices have gone up from Tk 135 to Tk 155 per litre.
Bangladesh's Energy Ministry has attributed the increase to the sharp rise in international fuel costs since March 2026. The government has said that higher global prices have also increased the financial burden on the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
- With inputs from agencies
