Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced a new adjustment in gas tariffs, affecting consumers across multiple regions. Residents of Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will experience a 4.89% increase in their gas bills, while those in Sindh and Balochistan will see a slightly higher rise of 7.14%. This recent price revision is expected to impact household budgets as winter demand continues to surge.

For Islamabad, Punjab, and KP, OGRA has allowed Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to raise prices by Rs 86.30 per MMBtu. The new rate is Rs 1,852.80 per MMBtu, up from Rs 1,766.50 per MMBtu. In Sindh and Balochistan, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has been permitted an increase of Rs 118.47 per MMBtu, bringing the price to Rs 1,777.02 per MMBtu from Rs 1,658.56 per MMBtu.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently spoke about Pakistan’s gas situation, explaining that the country faced serious gas shortages during the PDM government in 2022. He said the current government has been working hard to improve gas supply across the country.

He also shared good news: new connections of high-quality RLNG (Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas) are now being issued to the public. This means more households will have access to better and more reliable gas.

Experts believe the recent gas price increase approved by OGRA will affect both homes and industries. However, they say the hike is necessary to keep gas companies financially stable and to support improvements in supply.

Government officials are advising people to stay updated on the new gas rates and follow usage guidelines so they can manage their energy bills more effectively. While the price rise may be challenging for many, it is part of a larger plan to upgrade Pakistan’s energy system and make RLNG more widely available.

However, even after this price increase, people are still facing serious difficulties—especially those living in colder regions such as Balochistan and northern Pakistan. In these areas, gas supply is extremely limited, and long hours of load-shedding are causing major hardships during the harsh winter months.

In places where gas is still available, the situation hasn’t improved much either. Previously, gas was shut off from 10 PM to 6 AM, but now the cutoff hours have been extended, starting from 12 AM instead of 10 PM. These restricted supply timings continue to make daily life challenging for households trying to stay warm and manage basic needs during winter.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)