Pakistan is expected to receive sufficient gas supplies from Qatar during December and January, offering some relief to domestic consumers ahead of the winter season.
Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Sunday assured that gas imports from Qatar were continuing and supplies would remain adequate over the coming months despite uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing a convocation at a private university in Lahore, the minister said Pakistan was managing its energy requirements amid international market pressures and uncertainty over oil and gas supplies.
He acknowledged that developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz had affected international oil and gas prices, creating challenges for energy-importing countries, including Pakistan.
Malik said the country had successfully managed the situation over the past six months despite fluctuations in international energy markets.
The minister also said the government was setting petroleum prices through a transparent mechanism to ensure consumers were charged according to prevailing market conditions.
He highlighted targeted subsidies for financially vulnerable households, saying the government was continuing to provide subsidised petrol to low-income people to ease the burden of rising energy costs.
Earlier today, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Rs14.73 per kilogram, pushing the price of a domestic cylinder to Rs3,470.
According to an official notification issued by OGRA, the revised LPG prices will take effect across the country from November 1. The increase will affect both domestic and commercial consumers.
Under the revised rates, the price of an 11.8-kilogram domestic LPG cylinder has been increased by Rs173.86, bringing its new price to Rs3,470.09 for November.
In October, the same domestic cylinder was available for Rs3,296.23.
According to OGRA documents, the producer price of LPG has also been increased by Rs14,733.98 per tonne. Following the revision, the producer price for November has been fixed at Rs252,775.47 per tonne.
Meanwhile, the overall LPG price for consumers has risen to Rs294,075.47 per tonne.
The increase comes ahead of the winter season, when demand for LPG generally rises. The latest price hike is expected to add to the financial difficulties of low- and middle-income households that rely on LPG for their cooking and heating needs.
