After days of speculation, the government is finally expected to increase petrol and diesel prices on Wednesday.

Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) will meet on Wednesday morning to take a decision on raising the prices and after working out a consensus on how the prices should go up by.

Petroleum Ministry is seeking a Rs 10 per litre increase in petrol and Rs 5 a litre hike in diesel prices along with cut in customs and excise duties to offset the impact of surge in crude oil prices that have touched 135 dollars per barrel.

All the uncertainty though has led to panic buying causing a big rise in demand but strangely oil companies still continue to lose.