People in Dera Ismail Khan and other areas of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are facing challenges as several fuel filling stations have run out of petrol, leading to disruptions in daily life, business activities, and transportation services. Residents are struggling to find fuel, with reports of illegal selling at inflated prices in residential areas, reaching up to PKR 400-500 per litre, above the official rate. This scarcity has also resulted in increased public transport fares, adding financial strain on commuters, daily wage earners, students, and workers.
Due to the unavailability of fuel, numerous fuel filling stations, particularly along Chashma Road, have remained closed. The public is urging authorities to swiftly restore fuel supplies and crack down on hoarders and profiteers. The Pakistan federal government recently raised petrol and high-speed diesel prices by PKR 4.40 and PKR 3.62 per litre, respectively, effective from July 24, as reported by Pakistan’s Express Tribune.
Petrol is now priced at PKR 331.52 per litre, while high-speed diesel will cost PKR 378.66 per litre, according to a notification from Pakistan’s Ministry of Petroleum. This marks the fourth consecutive day of price adjustments following the government’s decision to adopt a daily fuel price review mechanism in response to global oil price fluctuations due to tensions in West Asia. Under the new system, daily fuel prices will be determined based on a seven-day average of global market rates to align with international standards.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Information Minister Atta Tarar had announced the implementation of this daily pricing mechanism on July 17, emphasizing that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) would publish the changing rates on its website. Ogra will set fuel prices daily based on international market trends.
