Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN DESK
ISLAMABAD (Sept 17): The Petroleum Division on Wednesday raised petrol and diesel prices just as newspapers and TV channels piled praise on the government through official advertisements promising a Rs. 100 relief per litre of petrol to the masses—but the reality is far from it.
While the Islamabad administration claims that a smooth rollout is underway across all 146 fuel pumps in the capital, deep-seated skepticism from petroleum dealers regarding the government’s long-term financial intentions is casting a long shadow over the initiative.
On Wednesday, the federal government increased the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs. 6.88 and Rs. 5.62 per litre, respectively, effective Sept 17. The new price of petrol was fixed at Rs. 391.22 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs. 421.45 per litre.
No way out: Pakistan raises petroleum product prices again
In order to protect the underprivileged class, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced the nationwide Fuel Relief Scheme on Sunday, September 13. The scheme targets low-income groups (motorcycles, rickshaws, and cars under 800cc.
According to official briefings, registered citizens are currently accessing subsidised petrol under the Prime Minister’s Relief Scheme. The local administration has taken steps to accelerate public enrollment, plastering instructions and registration banners across the capital’s police divisions.
Non-registered motorists are reportedly being signed up on the spot within minutes.A breakdown of the deployment shows the scale of the enforcement: 17 fuel stations in the Secretariat Division, 10 in Shalimar, 12 in the Industrial Area, 11 in the City Division, 23 in Bhara Kahu/Nilore, 15 in Pothohar, 27 in the Rural Division, and 31 in the Saddar Division are under close official monitoring.
However, beneath the bureaucratic optimism lies a brewing standoff. Reports indicate a significant pushback from the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, with several pump operators showing reluctance to dispense the cheaper fuel.
Insiders suggest that dealers are fearful of protracted delays in government reimbursements—a concern that has frequently plagued public-private subsidy partnerships in the past.In response, the Deputy Commissioner’s office has adopted a zero-tolerance posture. Capital authorities warned yesterday that any fuel station refusing to honor the subsidized rates to registered citizens will be summarily sealed.To enforce compliance, the administration has set up a dedicated public grievance hotline.
Motorists encountering non-compliance or flat-out refusals at the pumps have been urged by the Deputy Commissioner to immediately report the operators by dialing 9771.Whether this aggressive administrative policing can successfully compel a reluctant petroleum sector to cooperate—or if it will trigger a broader strike action by dealers—remains the critical question for the government’s economic relief strategy in the days ahead.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026.
