The federal government on Thursday announced that prices of petroleum products will remain unchanged for the next fortnight, effective from January 16.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol has been maintained at Rs253.17 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) will continue to sell at Rs257.08 per litre until the end of January.

The decision comes after a reduction in fuel prices during the previous fortnightly review, when the government cut petrol rates by Rs10.28 per litre and high-speed diesel by Rs8.57.

Petrol is primarily used by commuters, including those relying on motorcycles, rickshaws and small vehicles.

Any increase in its price has a direct impact on the budgets of middle- and lower-middle-income households that depend on petrol for daily travel.

High-speed diesel, on the other hand, is widely used in the transport and agricultural sectors. It fuels heavy goods vehicles, trucks, buses and trains, as well as farm machinery such as tractors, tube wells and threshers.

Due to its extensive use in freight and agriculture, the price of HSD is considered inflationary, as higher diesel costs often translate into increased prices of vegetables and other essential food items.