Petrol Price Hike Challenged in Lahore High Court

A constitutional petition has been instituted before the Lahore High Court contesting the recent escalation in petroleum prices, seeking immediate suspension of the increase and judicial scrutiny of the prevailing pricing mechanism.

As per reported details, the petition was filed by Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique, who contended that petrol prices in Pakistan have surpassed Rs450 per litre, positioning the country among jurisdictions with disproportionately high fuel costs relative to average income levels.

The petition draws upon comparative international data, asserting that petrol prices stand at approximately Rs250 per litre in the United States, Rs290–310 in India, Rs350–360 in Turkey, Rs280–285 in Bangladesh, and Rs350–365 in Sri Lanka. It further notes that prices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia range between Rs170 and Rs190 per litre.

The petitioner has argued that the latest price revision was implemented in the absence of a clearly defined and transparent pricing formula, thereby raising questions regarding its legal validity. The plea challenges both the government’s pricing framework and the regulatory oversight exercised by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, alleging that the existing mechanism lacks transparency and is inconsistent with constitutional safeguards.

In a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a reduction of Rs80 per litre in the petroleum levy, resulting in a revised petrol price of Rs378 per litre, down from Rs458. The adjusted rate is set to take effect nationwide from 12:00 am Saturday and will remain applicable for a period of one month.