The Balochistan government on Saturday announced a fixed price of Rs. 280 per litre for Iranian petrol, which is almost Rs. 180/litre cheaper than the imported fuel being sold at regulated pumps across other provinces.
The provincial government there has warned that anyone charging above this rate would face legal action. Currently, this is the cheapest grade of petrol in the entire South Asian region. Eastward, the same fuel costs Rs. 458 per litre.
A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti decided that Iranian petrol would be sold exclusively within Balochistan and prohibited from leaving the province.
They argued that the federal government’s higher pricing for imported petroleum does not justify surcharges on Iranian petrol.
Following the announcement, authorities have vowed to conduct strict inspections and enforce penalties on violators.
The move comes after traders increased Iranian petrol prices to between Rs. 300 and Rs. 360 per litre following the Petroleum Division’s announcement of sky-high fuel rates for licensed dealers.