LPG price has surged to a record Rs600 per kg in colder hilly areas of Pakistan, while consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are paying around Rs500 per kg as supplies tighten ahead of winter.
A domestic LPG cylinder is now selling for up to Rs7,200 in hilly areas and around Rs6,000 in Punjab and KP, more than double its official price.
Official LPG Price vs Market Rate
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed the October LPG price at Rs279 per kg, with a domestic cylinder officially priced at Rs3,350. Open-market rates, however, have moved far above the notified price.
Why the LPG Price Is Rising
Pakistan produces 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes of LPG a day, and a similar amount is imported or smuggled from Iran. The sudden closure of trading points with Iran has cut off much of that supply.
Demand is climbing at the same time. Daily consumption of around 4,000 to 4,500 tonnes can jump to 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes in peak winter, as families in remote areas depend on LPG for heating and cooking, and gas load-shedding pushes SNGPL and some SSGC consumers towards cylinders.
Distributors Warn of a Further Increase
LPG Distributors Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar warned that prices could rise further in the coming days. He blamed weak oversight by OGRA for overcharging worth billions of rupees, saying even locally produced LPG, officially priced at Rs279 per kg, is selling at around Rs450 per kg on average.
He called for immediate imports to ease supply and urged OGRA to set a blended price for local and imported LPG, similar to the mechanism used for petrol and diesel.
What Happens Next
With winter only weeks away, households in northern areas and gas-short cities could face even higher bills unless imports arrive quickly or the regulator enforces the official rate in the market.
Follow the TaazaTaren channel for the latest updates.
