ISLAMABAD: Owing to impact of oil prices in international market, the prices of high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene and light diesel oil (LDO) are estimated to increase by about Rs4 to Rs5 per litre on New Year’s Eve, for the first fortnight of 2025.

However, informed sources said, the ex-depot price of petrol was estimated to be range-bound, swinging either way with a Re1 per litre change, depending on final calculation on Dec 31.

In the mid of December, the ex-depot price of HSD was reduced by Rs3.05 (1.18pc) to Rs255.38 per litre, while the petrol price remained unchanged.

Sources said the average prices of HSD and LDO have slightly increased in the international market during the last fortnight while ex-refinery cost of kerosene oil was also slig­htly on the higher side. Imp­ort premium on both petrol and diesel remained unchanged while exchange rate on average remained stable.

Due to these factors, the latest calculation as of Dec 28 showed around Rs4 per litre increase in HSD, Rs5 per litre in kerosene and LDO.

An official of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) said the price difference for petrol was very small, which could be adjusted within the inland freight equalisation margin — a mechanism actually meant for uniform prices across the country.

The ex-depot petrol price currently stands at Rs252.10 per litre while that of HSD is Rs255.38 per litre.

Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and has a direct bearing on the budget of middle- and lower-middle class.

Most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains and agricultural engines like trucks, buses, tractors, tube-wells and threshers and particularly impacts the prices of vegetables and other eatables.

At present, the government is charging about Rs76 per litre tax on both petrol and HSD.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.