Petrol Price History Pakistan 2020–2026 — Complete Month-by-Month Chart
Petrol prices in Pakistan have gone through dramatic transformations from 2020 to 2026 — touching a historic low of Rs 74.52/litre during COVID-19 and an all-time high of Rs 458.41/litre during the 2026 Iran crisis. This comprehensive guide documents every major price change with dates, causes, and context.
For the current petrol price and next revision date, visit our live Pakistan fuel price tracker — updated with every OGRA notification.
Petrol Price Pakistan — Complete Year-by-Year Summary (2020–2026)
2020 — COVID Crash to Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic caused global oil demand to collapse. Pakistan benefited from historically cheap crude — the government briefly dropped petrol below Rs 75/litre for the first time in over a decade.
| Month 2020 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 112.69 | Pre-COVID stable |
| April | 96.00 | First major COVID cut |
| June | 74.52 | Decade low — crude at $20/barrel |
| September | 95.00 | Recovery as oil rebounds |
| December | 106.49 | Global economy reopening |
2021 — Gradual Rise as Demand Returns
As global economies reopened and vaccine rollouts progressed, crude oil demand surged. Pakistan’s petrol prices climbed steadily throughout 2021, though the government absorbed some increases through subsidy adjustments.
| Month 2021 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 107.59 | Stable start to year |
| April | 110.00 | Vaccine rollout, oil demand rising |
| July | 118.09 | OPEC output restrictions |
| October | 127.30 | Supply squeeze continues |
| December | 144.82 | Year-end surge |
2022 — The Great Subsidy Removal Shock
2022 was a watershed year. The PTI government maintained an unsustainable fuel subsidy (petrol at Rs 149.86/litre when true market cost was Rs 200+). After the IMF demanded subsidy removal as a condition for bailout, the coalition government that replaced PTI removed all subsidies overnight — causing a historic Rs 60/litre single-day jump in June 2022.
| Date 2022 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2022 | 147.83 | Russia-Ukraine war begins |
| Apr 2022 | 149.86 | PTI subsidy holding artificially low |
| May 26, 2022 | 179.86 | IMF deal — partial subsidy removal (+Rs 30) |
| Jun 3, 2022 | 209.86 | FIRST TIME ABOVE Rs 200 in history |
| Aug 2022 | 233.89 | Flood crisis adds to economic pressure |
| Dec 2022 | 214.80 | Slight year-end correction |
2023 — Rupee Collapse Drives New Record
In 2023, the Pakistani rupee collapsed from Rs 225/USD to Rs 305/USD — a 35% devaluation in months. Since fuel is priced in USD internationally, this devaluation directly increased the rupee cost of imports. Combined with global crude staying elevated, petrol hit a new peak of Rs 331.38/litre in September 2023.
| Date 2023 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2023 | 214.80 | IMF pressure continues |
| Feb 2023 | 249.80 | Rupee devaluation accelerates |
| Jun 2023 | 282.00 | Record at time — USD/PKR at 285 |
| Sep 16, 2023 | 331.38 | Pre-2026 all-time peak, PKR 305/USD |
| Nov 2023 | 283.38 | PKR stabilizes, crude falls |
| Dec 2023 | 272.89 | Year-end relief |
2024 — Gradual Correction
After the 2023 peak, a combination of rupee stabilization, lower global crude, and IMF program compliance helped reduce petrol prices. By October 2024, petrol had dropped to Rs 247.03 — a reduction of over Rs 84/litre from the September 2023 peak.
| Date 2024 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | 272.20 | Correction underway |
| May 2024 | 268.48 | PKR steady at 278/USD |
| Oct 2024 | 247.03 | 2024 low — biggest relief in years |
| Dec 2024 | 252.30 | Slight year-end uptick |
2025 — Relative Stability
2025 was the most stable year in recent memory, with prices hovering between Rs 252 and Rs 268/litre for most of the year. The IMF program kept forex reserves adequate and petroleum levy remained manageable at Rs 60/litre.
| Date 2025 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 257.53 | Stable plateau begins |
| Apr 2025 | 263.12 | Brent at $72/barrel |
| Aug 2025 | 258.00 | Minor reduction |
| Dec 2025 | 263.45 | Plateau maintained |
2026 — The Iran Crisis and Historic Volatility
2026 brought the most dramatic fuel price swings in Pakistan’s history. The Iran-Strait of Hormuz crisis caused crude oil prices to double within weeks, followed by unprecedented government relief measures.
| Date 2026 | Petrol (Rs/L) | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 259.00 | Stable |
| Feb 16, 2026 | 263.00 | Minor increase (+Rs 5) |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 321.17 | Hormuz crisis — biggest single hike at the time |
| Apr 3, 2026 | 458.41 | ALL-TIME RECORD — largest single-day rise |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 366.58 | Levy slashed Rs 80 — biggest relief package |
| May 16, 2026 | 409.78 | Crude uptick reverses some relief |
| May 30, 2026 | 381.78 | Current rate — crude easing |
Key Records in Pakistan Petrol Price History
| Record | Price (Rs/L) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| All-Time Low (modern era) | 74.52 | June 2020 |
| First time above Rs 200 | 209.86 | June 3, 2022 |
| First time above Rs 300 | 323.38 | September 2023 |
| First time above Rs 400 | 403.78 | April 2026 |
| All-Time High (ever) | 458.41 | April 3, 2026 |
From Rs 74.52 in June 2020 to Rs 458.41 in April 2026 — that’s a 515% increase in six years. No other South Asian country experienced such extreme volatility in the same period.
Major Price Shock Events Explained
1. PTI Subsidy Era (Early 2022)
The PTI government under PM Imran Khan maintained an artificial fuel subsidy that kept petrol at Rs 149.86/litre when the true import cost was already over Rs 220/litre. This was financed through the petroleum levy reduction to nearly zero. The IMF halted its bailout program, demanding subsidy removal. When the coalition government removed subsidies in May-June 2022, prices jumped Rs 60 in days.
2. Rupee Crash (2023)
The PKR fell from Rs 225/USD (January 2023) to Rs 305/USD (September 2023) — a 35% devaluation. Since Pakistan imports all its petrol in USD, this directly raised the rupee cost by 35%. Combined with crude staying at $85-95/barrel, petrol hit Rs 331.38 in September 2023.
3. Iran-Hormuz Crisis (March–April 2026)
The most dramatic price shock in Pakistan’s history. US-Israel strikes on Iran triggered closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude jumped from $75 to $130+ in weeks. OGRA hiked Rs 55 on March 7, then an unprecedented Rs 137.24 on April 3 (from Rs 321 to Rs 458/litre). The government eventually slashed the petroleum levy from Rs 160.61 to Rs 80.61 to bring prices down to Rs 366/litre by April 11.
Stay updated on every price revision — bookmark the Carr.pk fuel price tracker for real-time OGRA notifications. Also read our OGRA price formula explainer and our guide on fuel saving tips for Pakistan drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the lowest petrol price in Pakistan?
The lowest petrol price in recent history was Rs 74.52 per litre in June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic when global crude oil crashed to $20/barrel. Going further back, petrol was Rs 55.55/litre in 2006.
What was the highest petrol price in Pakistan?
The all-time highest petrol price was Rs 458.41 per litre on April 3, 2026, following the Iran-Strait of Hormuz crisis that caused a global oil supply shock.
Why did petrol price increase so much in 2022?
In 2022, the PTI government’s fuel subsidy was abruptly removed under IMF pressure. The true market price (Rs 200+) replaced the artificially suppressed rate (Rs 150), causing a Rs 60/litre jump in two weeks. Russia-Ukraine war also kept global crude prices elevated throughout 2022.
How does Pakistan’s petrol price history compare to India?
India’s petrol was ~Rs 106 INR/litre in June 2022 (equivalent to ~Rs 140 PKR at the time), while Pakistan hit Rs 209/litre. By 2026, India is at ~₹102 INR/litre (~$1.22 USD) while Pakistan is at Rs 381.78 (~$0.90 USD). Pakistan appears cheaper in USD but is more expensive relative to per capita income.
When did Pakistan petrol first cross Rs 100?
Petrol first crossed Rs 100/litre in Pakistan in late 2020 as global crude prices recovered from COVID-19 lows. It had briefly dipped below Rs 75 in June 2020 and then crossed Rs 100 again by December 2020.
For the current rate and next expected revision, always check the Carr.pk Pakistan fuel prices page. Also explore our article on petrol vs diesel vs CNG cost comparison and our top 15 fuel efficient cars in Pakistan to manage rising fuel costs.
