Has the price of petrol gone up in Pakistan?

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) has cleared up the confusion about a “fake” press release, supposedly from the Finance Division, that has been going around social media about an increase in the price of gasoline in Pakistan.

The prices of gasoline, high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene (SKO), and light diesel oil are going up, according to a notice that is going around that is said to be from the finance department.

On Saturday, the MOIB used a Twitter account that it uses to check the truth of news to say, “Fake Press Release is going around on Social Media. Attached is the real press release.”

In the tweet, the ministry posted a picture of the “fake” notice, which said, “Due to the rise in oil prices on the international market and in order to keep consumers supplied without interruption, the government has decided to change the prices of petroleum products.” The new prices will start on April 2, 2023.

The “false” circular said that the price of gasoline would go up by Rs21.23, from Rs272 to Rs293.23, and that the price of HSD would go up from Rs293 to Rs311.12.

The “false” notice also said that the prices of kerosene and light diesel oil would go up by Rs9.71 and Rs15.32, respectively.

But the ministry said that this wasn’t true and showed the real notice from the Finance Division.

This notice said, “In the government’s review of petroleum products every two weeks, the prices of MS (petrol) and High-speed Diesel will stay the same and the prices of Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil will go down by Rs.10 until April 15, 2023.” The new prices will start on April 1, 2023.”

This notice says that the prices of petrol, HSD, kerosene, and light diesel oil will be Rs272, Rs293, Rs180.29, and Rs174.68, respectively, as of April 1.