The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has raised petrol and diesel prices for a one day period, a move that comes just hours after the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association announced an indefinite nationwide strike over unresolved pricing disputes with the government.

According to reports, the petrol price has been increased by Rs4.93 per litre to Rs320.73, while high-speed diesel has been raised by Rs7.15 per litre to Rs367.21, with the new rates effective from midnight and valid for one day. The increase follows the collapse of talks between pump owners and the petroleum ministry over profit margins and the daily pricing mechanism itself.

Officials say the raise came after the Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association announced that all petrol pumps across the country would shut from midnight, following negotiations with the Minister of Petroleum that ended without result. The association has directed its members nationwide to participate in the strike until its demands are addressed, raising the prospect of fuel shortages for commuters and transporters in the days ahead. 

For ordinary consumers, the dispute adds a layer of uncertainty on top of an already volatile pricing environment shaped by the shift to daily rate announcements. Should the strike proceed as planned, residents in major cities may face difficulty accessing fuel even at the newly notified rates, a scenario that could compound frustration already building over the pace and unpredictability of price changes this year.

— Compiled by the Weekly PK Staff Desk