Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged sharply across Pakistan, with market rates far exceeding the official price fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
Despite OGRA setting the LPG price at Rs. 304.28 per kilogram, the fuel is being sold for between Rs. 450 and Rs. 470 per kg in several areas of Lahore and other big cities. The difference forces consumers to pay as much as Rs. 146 per kilogram above the official rate.
According to the LPG Distributors Association, daily nationwide consumption exceeds 6,000 metric tons.
Retailers insist they are not responsible for the spike. They said LPG marketing companies are supplying cylinders at already higher prices. Many sellers commented that selling it at the government’s official rate was financially impossible. They complained that legal actions against sellers often target small vendors while larger market players continue to earn big profits unchecked.
The rising prices are hitting low-income earners the hardest. There is no clear timeline for energy prices to stabilize in the near-term.