ISLAMABAD: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to an unprecedented Rs600 per kilogram in Pakistan’s northern areas, with a domestic cylinder reportedly selling for as much as Rs7,200 following the suspension of LPG imports from Iran amid the closure of trade border points.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Irfan Khokhar, chairman of the Pakistan LPG Distribution Association, LPG is being sold at around Rs500 per kilogram in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where a domestic cylinder is fetching approximately Rs6,000. Industry representatives have warned that prices could rise further if supply disruptions persist.
The reported retail prices are significantly higher than the rates notified by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) for October 2026. Ogra has fixed the LPG price at Rs279 per kilogram, with an 11.8-kilogram domestic cylinder priced at approximately Rs3,350.
The substantial difference between notified and prevailing market prices has raised concerns about excessive pricing, alleged black marketing and the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement. Consumers in remote mountainous areas, where access to piped natural gas is limited, are particularly vulnerable to rising fuel costs.
Khokhar criticised the government and Ogra over what he described as inadequate action against excessive pricing. He urged the Ogra chairman and the prime minister to intervene immediately to stabilise the market and protect consumers from further increases.
He also called for the utilisation of Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) terminal infrastructure and arrangements for immediate LPG imports to improve supplies and ease pressure on the market.
The price surge comes amid continued natural gas load-shedding, which has increased households’ dependence on LPG as an alternative cooking fuel. Any prolonged disruption in supplies could further strain household budgets, particularly in regions where LPG is a primary source of energy for cooking.
Industry representatives have called for urgent measures to restore supplies, strengthen market monitoring and ensure that LPG is available at prices consistent with the applicable regulatory framework.
The reported retail prices and allegations of black marketing could not be independently verified at the time of filing.
Story by Khalid Mustafa
