Despite government assurances of an uninterrupted natural gas supply during Sehri and Iftari timings in Ramadan 2024, residents across Pakistan are grappling with loadshedding. This has led to a surge in the demand for LPG cylinders as an alternative for cooking during Sehri and Iftar.
The 11.8 kg LPG cylinder, commonly used by households, is currently priced between Rs9,000 to Rs13,000 in various cities. Consumers have the convenience of purchasing these cylinders from multiple online platforms that offer doorstep delivery.
In addition to the 11.8 kg cylinder, 10 kg Fiber LPG Gas Cylinders are also available in the open market and online portals. Prices for these start from Rs10,500, with the maximum cost varying from company to company.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) also offers LPG cylinders in cities under its jurisdiction. The company provides a 12kg cylinder for a security charge of Rs7,000, along with Rs1,000 each for regulator and service charges. As of March 2023, the LPG gas price stands at Rs3,030. Therefore, consumers can get an SNGPL LPG cylinder filled with gas for Rs12,300 in cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi.
According to Ogra, the official price for an 11.8 kg cylinder is Rs3,030.25, implying an official rate of Rs256.78 per kg. However, it’s being sold for Rs300 per kg in the open market, indicating a discrepancy between the official and market rates.
This situation underscores the need for effective measures to ensure a steady supply of natural gas during Ramadan and regulate LPG cylinder prices to prevent overcharging.
