LPG sells up to Rs300 per kg above official price in Pakistan
LPG is being sold at Rs530 to Rs600 per kilogram in the market, well above the official price of Rs279.34. The importers' association says prices may rise further in November.
- Market LPG prices run Rs530-600 per kg against an official Rs279.34 in Lahore
- Importers warn of higher prices and supply problems in November
- Bowsers to Balochistan now take 10 to 12 days instead of three to four
Liquefied petroleum gas is being sold at far more than its official price in Pakistan. Express News reported that consumers are paying Rs550 to Rs600 per kilogram, a gap of about Rs300 from the official rate, and that prices have not fallen anywhere in the country.
In Lahore, 24NewsHD reported on Friday that LPG is selling for Rs530 to Rs600 per kilogram in different areas. The official price is Rs279.34 per kilogram.
Shopkeepers told the channel they buy LPG from plants at high prices and blamed plant owners for the increase. Some said they cannot sell at government rates in the city until those rates are also applied to the plants.
Residents say they have to buy the costly gas because piped gas is not available to them. Household consumers want LPG sold at official rates, and citizens appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to make it available at the official price and to activate the administration.
The LPG Importers Association has told the government that prices may rise further and supply may be affected in November because of security concerns and the closure of border routes. LPG is being brought from Iran through the Taftan border crossing.
Delivery of LPG bowsers to Balochistan is delayed by security concerns in the province. Bowsers that once reached their destinations in three to four days now take 10 to 12 days, and some elements are selling gas at arbitrary prices because of the delays, Express News reported.
Association chairman Sheikh Mukarram Waheed said the government has been told about fears over security and supply for several months. He also demanded that the government provide full security for LPG transport. The association says it has raised these issues with the government and OGRA for months without progress.
Separately, the LPG Distributors Association held a two-day symbolic strike against raids by OGRA and Civil Defence, and demands action against plant owners. Rickshaw driver Adnan Samiullah Khan said he can no longer afford a full kilogram and buys gas worth Rs200 or Rs300, spending all his earnings on it. Express News said OGRA and Ministry of Petroleum officials have not yet taken effective steps.
Why it matters
Households without piped gas and rickshaw drivers are paying far above the official LPG price, which strains their budgets.
