High-Speed Diesel (HSD) Price in Pakistan Today

What Is HSD?

High-Speed Diesel (HSD) is the standardised grade of diesel fuel used in Pakistan for all road vehicles, agricultural machinery and industrial generators. The term "high-speed" refers to the engine type — specifically compression-ignition engines operating at high RPM — rather than vehicle speed. HSD is a mid-distillate petroleum product, lighter and more refined than Light Diesel Oil (LDO) but heavier than kerosene or petrol.

In Pakistan, HSD specifications are governed by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), which sets limits on cetane number (a measure of ignition quality), sulphur content, density and other properties. Pakistan has progressively moved toward lower-sulphur HSD to reduce air pollution from diesel vehicles.

HSD as the Canonical Diesel Grade

When Pakistanis refer to "diesel" at the pump, they are invariably referring to High-Speed Diesel. This is the grade dispensed at all petrol/fuel stations across the country operated by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). HSD is the canonical diesel gradefor on-road use, and its price — set by OGRA every fortnight — is the "diesel price" quoted in news reports, government notifications and this page.

How the HSD Price Is Calculated

The HSD ex-pump price is determined through import parity pricing. OGRA uses international benchmarks for gas oil (the refined product category that includes diesel) — primarily Platts Singapore and Platts Arab Gulf assessments — converted to PKR at the prevailing exchange rate. The import parity cost includes the freight-on-board (FOB) price, ocean freight, insurance and port handling.

To the ex-refinery price, the government adds the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL)and the General Sales Tax (GST), plus regulated OMC margins and dealer commissions, to arrive at the final consumer pump price. The PDL on HSD has historically been set lower than on petrol, reflecting the government's policy of protecting transport and agricultural sectors from excessive fuel cost burdens.

HSD's Role in Pakistan's Transport Sector

Pakistan's road freight sector is almost entirely diesel-dependent. With limited rail freight capacity and virtually no inland waterways, trucks are the dominant mode of goods transport. Over 500,000 trucks and tens of thousands of buses operate on HSD in Pakistan. The Pakistan Goods Transport Association and trucking lobby are among the most vocal groups that respond to every diesel price revision, given its direct impact on their operating costs.

For long-haul routes — Karachi to Peshawar, or Lahore to Quetta — fuel can represent 40-60% of a truck's operating cost. This sensitivity explains why diesel price changes are immediately reflected in freight rates and, subsequently, in the prices of goods at retail markets across Pakistan.

HSD Price and Agricultural Productivity

Pakistan's agricultural sector — which contributes about 20% of GDP and employs nearly 40% of the labour force — depends on diesel for irrigation pumps, tractors, threshers and transportation of produce. Punjab's wheat fields, Sindh's sugarcane crop, and Balochistan's orchards all rely on diesel-powered equipment. Higher HSD prices directly increase the cost of production, reducing farmers' margins and sometimes leading to higher food prices at the consumer level.

Tracking HSD Price Trends

For logistics companies, fleet operators, farmers and importers, tracking HSD price trends is essential for cost forecasting and contract pricing. The history table and chart on this page provide a comprehensive record of every HSD price revision since our data collection began. You can observe how global oil price cycles, exchange rate shifts and government tax policy changes have shaped the diesel price trajectory in Pakistan.