Government cuts petrol, diesel prices for third consecutive day
Petroleum Division sets petrol at Rs389.28 and high-speed diesel at Rs412.12 per litre for 25 September, with lower rates effective from midnight.
The federal government reduced petrol and high-speed diesel prices for the third day in a row on Wednesday, setting new rates that will apply on 25 September, according to a Petroleum Division notification reported by Express News.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) fixed the price of petrol at Rs389.28 per litre after a decrease of 84 paisas, the notification said. High-speed diesel was cut by Rs2.63 per litre to Rs412.12. The revised prices take effect from midnight on 24 September for 25 September, the report added.
Aaj News, reporting on the immediately preceding adjustment, said the government had lowered petrol and diesel prices for the second consecutive day on 24 September. That notification, from the Petroleum Division, cut petrol by Rs1.93 per litre to Rs390.12 and high-speed diesel by Rs4.21 per litre to Rs414.75.
The Petroleum Division attributed the revisions to changes in global Platts rates, premiums and other international market factors. It has moved to daily fuel-price adjustments in response to volatility linked to crude prices and Middle East tensions, with rates held unchanged on Saturdays and Sundays.
According to Aaj News, the latest series of reductions follows substantial increases earlier in September. In the first 23 days of the month, petrol had risen by Rs53.04 per litre and high-speed diesel by Rs59.93 per litre. Since 17 July, petrol prices have been reduced 17 times and increased 28 times, while high-speed diesel has been reduced 14 times and increased 31 times.
On 13 September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs100 per litre relief on petrol for users of motorcycles, rickshaws, chingchis and vehicles up to 800cc to cushion the impact of high fuel costs, Aaj News reported.
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