Two ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Oman have arrived at Port Qasim in Karachi, raising hopes of improved supplies and lower prices in Pakistan, according to reports by Dunya News and UrduPoint.
The two vessels brought a combined 7,603 metric tons of LPG. One consignment was discharged at the Sui Southern Gas Company terminal and the other at the Engro terminal, the reports said. Market sources cited in the reports said the fresh supply should improve availability across the country and could lead to a reduction in prices from Monday, although no final announcement had been made about how large any decrease would be.
That caution matters, because relief had not yet reached shop counters on Monday. A report published on 26 October said LPG was still being sold at Rs550 to Rs650 per kilogram in different cities — Rs570 in Peshawar, Rs600 in Attock, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and Rs550 in Karachi — despite the arrival of the two vessels at Port Qasim.
The same report said LPG shops in Lahore remained closed for a second consecutive day because of a shopkeepers’ strike, adding to difficulties for domestic consumers, while Quetta saw only a minor reduction of Rs30, to Rs520 per kilogram.
The supply pressure built up after LPG imports through the Iran border route were disrupted. Reports said stalled supplies through that route may also resume, which would further stabilise the market, but it remains unclear whether full and uninterrupted supplies from Iran have been restored.
Pakistan relies heavily on imports for LPG. The petroleum minister has previously put daily consumption at around 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes, against local production of only 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes, according to earlier reporting. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) fixed October’s consumer price at Rs279 per kilogram, but open-market rates reported by consumers and traders have been far higher — a gap that has left households paying much more than the regulated rate.
Fuel-related cases have also drawn attention in Punjab this month, including a Lahore petrol-pump assault case that ended in discharge after a settlement, as reported earlier by Nishandahi Media.
For now, the arrival of the Oman consignments is a supply improvement, not yet a price cut at the counter. Consumers should wait for official or market-confirmed price updates before assuming how much relief, if any, will follow.
This report follows a Nishandahi Media video on the same subject: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2139964633301161/
