ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday quietly raised the price of kerosene by nearly 70 per cent, just a day after announcing a Rs55 per litre increase in petrol and high-speed diesel rates.
A notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set the new price of kerosene at Rs318.81 per litre, up from Rs188.73, effective March 7. The previous kerosene price had come into effect only on March 1.
Kerosene remains a key fuel for households in remote areas where access to liquefied petroleum gas cylinders is limited. In comparison, petrol and high-speed diesel generate the bulk of government revenue, with monthly sales of about 700,000–800,000 tonnes versus just 10,000 tonnes for kerosene.
The increase comes just hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb assured the public that petroleum reserves were sufficient and supply was under control.
The government also shelved a proposed national action plan that included work-from-home and distance-learning measures in anticipation of a potential fuel crisis, opting instead to maintain normal activities for at least a week.
Ahead of the midnight implementation, long queues formed at petrol pumps nationwide as motorists rushed to fill their tanks before the new rates took effect. Reports suggested that some fuel stations temporarily closed pumps, apparently to avoid selling fuel at the old prices.
