KARACHI: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have reportedly surged to Rs550 per kilogram in parts of Pakistan, nearly double the official rate, as supply disruptions from Iran and declining domestic production put pressure on the local market.
The sharp increase has added to the financial burden on domestic and commercial consumers, particularly households and businesses that rely on LPG for cooking and other daily requirements.
According to market reports, interruptions in LPG shipments from Iran, coupled with reduced local production, have created supply shortages and pushed retail prices significantly above the government-notified rate.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed the official LPG price for October 2026 at Rs279.34 per kilogram, compared with Rs258.65 per kilogram in September.
The revised rate represents an increase of Rs20.69 per kilogram, or approximately 8 percent, over the previous month.
Under OGRA’s October notification, the official price of an 11.8-kilogram domestic LPG cylinder stands at Rs3,296.23.
However, at the reported market rate of Rs550 per kilogram, the same cylinder would cost approximately Rs6,490, almost Rs3,194 above the officially notified price.
The widening gap between regulated and reported retail prices has raised concerns about LPG affordability, particularly for consumers without access to piped natural gas.
Commercial users, including restaurants and small businesses dependent on LPG, are also facing higher operating costs as market prices rise.
The reported increase highlights pressure on Pakistan’s LPG supply chain, where disruptions in imported supplies and changes in domestic production can affect retail availability.
While OGRA has announced the official prices for October, reports of substantially higher market rates have raised questions about supply conditions and compliance with notified prices.