Minister assures domestic gas supply during winter, hints at further fuel price relief

The government will make every effort to ensure adequate LPG supplies during the winter months, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Tuesday, as disruptions in supplies from Iran have pushed prices in the open market to Rs700-800 per kilogramme.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Malik said the government is prepared to import even expensive fuel to meet demand for the piped gas network during winter, including through liquefied natural gas (LNG).

He said the government would try to ensure domestic gas is available through the piped network at meal times. LPG would also be required for households without gas connections and other consumers.

Malik said the country is facing several challenges in ensuring LPG availability, adding that some people are exploiting the shortage after supplies through the western border dried up.

On petroleum prices, the minister referred to the recent reduction and said international markets had closed lower. He expressed hope that the next revision of petrol and diesel prices would bring further relief.

He also acknowledged shortcomings in Pakistan’s energy infrastructure, saying little work has been done on fuel storage facilities, refineries and the LPG supply chain.

Malik said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on the issue and is personally leading efforts to rebuild the country’s energy security system. He said the regional war exposed Pakistan’s lack of preparedness and highlighted the need to strengthen its storage, refining and LPG infrastructure.