The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority raised the ex-depot price of motor spirit (petrol) by Rs3.81 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs3.59 per litre, effective from August 22 through August 24, 2026. The revision was notified by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) on Friday, August 21, under the government's revised petroleum pricing mechanism.
How the new rates compare
Petrol moved from Rs337.78 to Rs341.59 per litre. HSD rose from Rs364.70 to Rs368.29 per litre. Kerosene oil was also revised upward by Rs2.65 per litre, reaching Rs303.50. The three-day window means these rates apply Saturday through Monday.
Why the revision covers only three days
The short duration reflects the daily pricing framework the federal cabinet adopted after international oil markets turned volatile following the US-Iran conflict that began on February 28, 2026. Under this mechanism, OGRA determines ex-depot prices using a seven-day rolling average of international market prices: specifically Platts reference prices: and issues notifications without requiring prior approval from the prime minister or the federal cabinet. Prices notified on a Friday remain unchanged through the weekend, which is why this revision spans Saturday to Monday rather than a single day.
Taxes embedded in each litre
The retail price of petrol includes Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties; for HSD the figure is Rs100 per litre. The petroleum levy cannot exceed the ceiling approved by the federal cabinet, and any change in the levy rate requires clearance from the Finance Division.
What happens after August 24
The next price notification is expected on Monday, August 24, for rates taking effect from Tuesday, August 25. OGRA has been publishing daily petroleum prices on its website since July 1, 2026, and consumers can track the latest ex-depot rates there.
What the evidence does not yet establish is the specific international crude or product-price movements that drove this particular increase, nor whether the government intends to maintain the daily pricing mechanism beyond the current period of market volatility.