Minister blames closure of border for LPG price hike

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Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik addresses the National Assembly on Oct 23, 2024. — X/NAofPakistan
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik addresses the National Assembly on Oct 23, 2024. — X/NAofPakistan

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was apprised on Monday that closure of Pakistan-Iran border was one of the main reasons of sky rocketing price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country.

“Closure of Pak-Iran border is one of the main reasons of high prices of LPG and now we are trying to get the fuel from sea route,” said Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik while responding to a calling attention notice in the house.

The notice, which was jointly moved by Ms Aliya Kamran, Shahida Begum and Naeema Kishwar Khan, invited the attention of minister to a matter of urgent public importance regarding unprecedented increase in the prices of LPG causing grave concern among the public.

A mover of the bill Aliya Kamran said in remote and northern areas of the country the LPG was selling at Rs 700 to Rs 800 per kg against its official price, set by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) of Rs 280 per kg.

LPG is largely consumed fuel in remote and far flung areas of the country where pipe gas is not available. The consumption of LPG and its price increase in winter.

Naeema Kishwar questioned that why the government has suspended trade with Iran through border.

On this the minister said 50 to 60pc LPG was imported from Iran and rest of the required fuel we get from Qatar. He said due to United States-Iran war LPG supply from Qatar has been suspended.

He said the government was reviewing the whole system and that it has a policy to acquir the gas from other sources abroad.

The minister also agreed the official price of LPG, prescribed by Ogra was Rs 280 per kg. However, it has been observed that even during surplus supply of LPG, the gas is nowhere sold at the government rate.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026

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