Petrol price jumps by Rs4, diesel unchanged
ISLAMABAD: In its last fuel price revision announcement before farewell, the caretaker government on Thursday increased the petrol price by Rs4.13 per litre for the next fortnight ending March 15 but left the price of high-speed diesel unchanged. In a late-night announcement, the Ministry of Finance announced the new prices for the next fortnight, starting from March 1, as recommended by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). The petrol price has gone up by 1.5 per cent with immediate effect to Rs279.75 per litre from Rs275.62 earlier. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and an increase in its price directly impacts the budget of middle- and lower-middle classes. The price of high-speed diesel was kept unchanged at Rs287.33 per litre. Since this fuel is mostly used by the transport sector, a hike in its price is considered inflationary. The fuel is used in heavy vehicles, trains and agricultural engines like trucks, buses, tractors, tube wells and threshers and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.