Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to Rs500-600 per kilogram in markets across the country, far exceeding the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) notified rate of Rs279.34 per kg for October. The closure of trade routes with Iran and rising winter demand in northern parts of the country have added pressure on supplies.
The sharp increase has raised concerns among domestic consumers, particularly low-income households that rely on LPG for cooking in areas where piped natural gas is unavailable or insufficient. Retail prices are nearly double the notified rate, adding to the financial burden on households already struggling with rising living costs.
According to market reports, disruptions to cross-border trade with Iran have affected supply availability and contributed to the price surge. At the same time, demand for LPG typically increases as temperatures fall in northern areas, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, where households depend on the fuel for cooking and heating.
Ogra's notified LPG price for October stands at Rs279.34 per kg, following an increase of Rs20.69 per kg from September's rate of Rs258.65. The regulator has fixed the price of an 11.8kg domestic cylinder at Rs3,296.23 for the month.
At market rates of Rs500-600 per kg, an 11.8kg cylinder would cost approximately Rs5,900-7,080, significantly above the notified price. Irfan Khokhar, chairperson of the LPG Distributors Association, confirmed the price surge and warned that rates could rise further.
He criticised the regulator for failing to address the wide gap between official rates and market prices, alleging that consumers are being overcharged. Khokhar claimed that billions of rupees are being made through the illegal sale of LPG and called for an immediate government inquiry.