ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by up to Rs13.80 per litre with immediate effect for the week ending July 17, passing on the impact of higher international oil prices following renewed regional tensions.

Under the revised rates, the ex-depot price of HSD was raised to Rs323.30 per litre from Rs309.50, an increase of Rs13.80, or 4.5pc.

Despite the latest increase, diesel remains well below its record high of Rs520.35 per litre reached on April 3. Its price had begun climbing from Rs281 per litre after the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict on February 28.

HSD is regarded as the most inflationary petroleum product because of its extensive use in freight transportation and agriculture.

The ex-depot price of petrol was increased to Rs310.71 per litre from Rs297.53, up Rs13.18, or 4.3pc. Petrol had peaked at Rs458.41 per litre on April 3 after rising from Rs266 per litre in the first week of March.

The government also raised the petroleum levy on both products.

In line with an IMF commitment, the climate support levy was doubled to Rs5 per litre with effect from July 1.

The government currently collects about Rs105 per litre on both petrol and HSD through customs duty, the petroleum levy and the climate support levy, in addition to the inland freight equalisation margin.

Petrol and HSD remain the government’s biggest revenue-generating petroleum products, with combined monthly sales of around 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared with monthly kerosene demand of only about 10,000 tonnes.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2026