Key Points
- Three emergency oil tankers arriving at Port Qasim to ease domestic fuel shortage
- Petrol now at Rs 321.17 per litre, diesel even higher after global oil price surge
- Consumers reel under higher transport, food and LPG costs
- OGRA, reportedly, proposes further hikes of nearly Rs 73–85 per litre for petrol and diesel
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scrambling to stabilise fuel supplies as three emergency oil tankers arrive at Port Qasim this week, in an effort to moderate record-breaking domestic petrol, diesel and LPG prices that are hitting households and businesses alike.
The first tanker, carrying approximately 50,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, has berthed, with two more shipments from Oman and the UAE scheduled to follow, officials said.
Fuel prices were raised by Rs 55 per litre in one of the largest hikes in history, bringing petrol to Rs 321.17 and diesel to Rs 335.86.
The jump has fueled surges in transport fares, food prices and household energy costs, leaving ordinary consumers struggling to keep up.
Adding to the concern, unconfirmed reports, quoting sources, indicate that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has prepared another summary proposing further upward adjustments, suggesting Rs 73.40 for petrol and Rs 84.95 for diesel, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. The sources claim that the prime minister’s approval would enforce the new prices in the next couple of days
Analysts warn that rising energy prices are spilling into inflation, affecting vegetables, fruits and basic commodities, while Liquefied Petroleum Gas has increased by nearly Rs 30 per kilogram. The impact is particularly hard on lower- and middle-income households.
The government is facing legal and political challenges over the price hike, including petitions in the Peshawar High Court and debates in the National Assembly, as opposition lawmakers criticise the handling of the crisis.
Economists say that emergency shipments are a temporary relief, but sustained global oil volatility could prolong consumer pain and widen the current-account deficit.
For Pakistani consumers, the key question remains: Will the arrival of these emergency oil shipments ease prices, and how would the Prime Minister deal with a fresh proposal from OGRA to increase prices further?
