Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to as high as Rs700 per kilogramme in parts of Pakistan amid supply disruptions ahead of winter, with consumers reporting shortages and rates far above the official price, Geo News reported on Sunday.
The shortage comes as the official LPG price has also been increased by Rs14 per kg to Rs294 per kg, according to a notification. However, consumers said the commodity was not available at the government-notified rate.
In Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, LPG was being sold for between Rs530 and Rs700 per kg, while prices in Karachi and Lahore ranged from Rs520 to Rs580 per kg.
In Peshawar, the commodity was selling for between Rs600 and Rs650 per kg.
Consumers in Lahore, meanwhile, said LPG was being sold at shops for Rs550 to Rs600 per kg despite the official price of Rs294, calling on the government to bring prices down.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, speaking at a private university’s convocation in Lahore, said uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz had affected oil and gas prices.
He said Pakistan had successfully navigated the situation over the past six months and maintained that petroleum prices were determined through a transparent mechanism.
Malik said gas supplies were arriving from Qatar and assured that ample supplies would continue during December and January.
He also said the government was providing subsidised petrol to low-income people.
Meanwhile, Pakistan LPG Marketers Association Senior Vice President Ali Haider said a summary concerning the LPG pricing policy had been sent to the prime minister.
Haider said the proposed policy would make LPG 25% to 30% more expensive and maintained that it had been formulated without consultation with stakeholders.
He said higher LPG prices would hurt both businesses and consumers and called on the government to deregulate the sector.
