POL Prices
ISLAMABAD: Petroleum product prices are projected to remain largely stable for the upcoming fortnight beginning May 1, according to assessments from both industry experts and government sources.
The anticipated changes in rates are so minimal that officials believe they will not be passed on to consumers, thereby maintaining effective price stability at the retail level.
Sources informed that petrol prices may see an insignificant decrease of just Re0.016 per litre, while high-speed diesel might rise marginally by Re0.01 per litre. These negligible fluctuations are not expected to result in any price revision for consumers, marking another fortnight of steady fuel costs in the country.
Officials attribute this stability to the relatively calm state of international oil markets. Brent crude is currently trading at $65.52 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is priced at $61.87 per barrel.
These subdued rates are primarily influenced by ongoing concerns about a global oversupply and the lack of clarity over the continuation of US-China tariff negotiations, both of which have dampened price volatility.
Despite the overall stability in major fuel categories, the prices of some petroleum products are expected to rise. Kerosene oil is projected to increase by approximately 0.8 percent, translating into a Rs1.30 per litre hike — from Rs169.38 to Rs170.68. Similarly, the price of Light Diesel Oil (LDO) is likely to go up by Rs1.35 per litre, moving from Rs153.04 to Rs154.39.
In the previous fortnight, the federal government had opted not to revise fuel prices and instead announced that savings generated would be allocated to national development projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a recent federal cabinet meeting, emphasised that the funds would support the dualisation of the N-25 highway, which connects Chaman, Quetta, Khuzdar, and Karachi. The highway will be upgraded to motorway standards, significantly improving connectivity in Balochistan.
Further, the government plans to utilise these funds for constructing key motorway segments, including the M-6 (Sukkur-Hyderabad) and M-9 (Hyderabad-Karachi), as well as for the second phase of the Kachhi Canal project aimed at promoting agricultural growth in Balochistan.
The prime minister reiterated the importance of Balochistan’s development, asserting that the province’s progress is integral to the prosperity of the entire nation.
In addition to infrastructure investments, the cabinet approved changes to the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) Ordinance of 1961 to enhance revenue collection. It also endorsed the Sustainable Investment Sukuk Framework to facilitate the future issuance of domestic securities, reflecting the government’s broader fiscal strategy to balance national growth with financial sustainability.
