ISLAMABAD: Households across Pakistan are facing mounting difficulties as low gas pressure and load-shedding coincide with a sharp increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, adding to the financial burden on consumers ahead of winter.
In Karachi, LPG prices have increased by Rs100 per kilogram, rising from Rs450 to Rs550. The prevailing retail rate is also significantly higher than the official price of around Rs280 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, residents of Lahore are already struggling with gas shortages before the onset of winter. Consumers report that gas is unavailable from breakfast time until dinner, forcing many households to seek alternatives for cooking.
LPG prices in Lahore have reportedly reached Rs700 per kilogram in some areas, while rates vary between Rs500 and Rs700 depending on the locality.
As a result, residents say they are increasingly relying on hotels and tandoors for meals, putting additional pressure on their monthly household budgets.
In Peshawar, LPG prices have also risen by Rs100 per kilogram, increasing from Rs450 to Rs550.
The rising cost of alternative fuels has further compounded the problem. Firewood prices have also increased, with the rate per maund (approximately 40 kilograms) rising by Rs200 to Rs300.
Previously available for Rs1,400 to Rs1,600 per maund, firewood is now reportedly selling for Rs1,600 to Rs1,800.
The situation is also worsening in Gilgit, where LPG cylinder prices have reached record levels. An 11.8-kilogram cylinder is now costing more than Rs6,100, while prices in upper areas have climbed to around Rs6,500.
With gas shortages and rising fuel costs affecting multiple cities, households are facing increasingly expensive options for meeting their basic cooking needs as winter approaches.
