LAHORE, October 30, 2026: LPG prices remain unusually high across Pakistan, with consumers paying between Rs550 and Rs600 per kilogram as the gap between official rates and market prices reaches approximately Rs300 per kilogram.
The worsening LPG supply crisis has placed additional financial pressure on households, transport operators and small businesses, while traders warn that prices could rise further in November due to security concerns and transportation delays.
According to the LPG Importers Association, supplies from Iran continue through the Taftan border crossing, but security concerns in Balochistan have significantly delayed the movement of LPG tankers.
Tankers that previously reached their destinations within three to four days now take between 10 and 12 days, disrupting supplies and allowing some traders to charge excessive prices.
LPG importers warn of further price increases
LPG Importers Association Chairman Sheikh Mukarram Waheed said the industry had repeatedly informed the government about security risks and potential supply disruptions.
He said the association had held discussions with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and submitted written complaints over several months, but no meaningful progress had been made.
Waheed urged the government to provide adequate security for LPG transportation to ensure uninterrupted supplies and prevent further price increases.
The association has also warned that continued border-related difficulties and security challenges could worsen shortages and push prices higher in November.
LPG dealers protest regulatory action
Meanwhile, the LPG Distributors Association has raised concerns over raids conducted by OGRA and Civil Defence authorities.
The association staged a two-day symbolic strike to protest enforcement measures against retailers.
Distributors argued that authorities should take action against LPG plant owners rather than penalizing shopkeepers who purchase gas at inflated wholesale prices.
They said retailers could not sell LPG at official rates when their purchasing costs were already significantly higher.
The association also complained about fines and the removal of LPG pumps during enforcement operations.
Rising LPG prices hit rickshaw drivers
The sharp increase in LPG prices has particularly affected rickshaw drivers who depend on the fuel for their daily earnings.
Speaking to Express News, rickshaw driver Adnan Sami Khan said rising fuel costs had made it difficult to purchase even one kilogram of LPG.
He said drivers were increasingly buying gas worth Rs200 or Rs300 at a time because they could not afford larger quantities.
According to Khan, much of his daily income now goes toward fuel expenses, leaving little money for household necessities.
He also complained about traffic fines, declining passenger demand and rising living costs, saying many drivers were struggling to provide two meals a day for their families.
Consumers await government intervention
The widening difference between official LPG prices and actual market rates has raised concerns about price regulation and supply management.
Consumers and industry representatives have called for stronger oversight, improved transportation security and action against excessive pricing.
However, effective measures by OGRA and the Ministry of Petroleum to address the situation have yet to emerge, leaving consumers facing continued uncertainty over LPG availability and prices.