Govt assures public of meeting domestic gas demand during winter, hints at 'good news' for fuel prices

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik reassured the Pakistani public on Tuesday that the government is making every effort to meet the demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) throughout the winter months. This assurance comes amidst disruptions in LPG supply due to closed Iranian border crossings, which has led to LPG cylinders being sold at double the official price in the open market. LPG is predominantly used for rickshaws, cooking, and other purposes by those not connected to the piped gas network.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Islamabad, Malik stated, "Witnessing people's distress and being aware that winter will peak in December and January, we will bring in the most expensive fuel for the piped network and strive to meet demand through LNG (liquefied natural gas)." He emphasized that the government will make its "utmost efforts" to ensure the piped supply of domestic gas for three daily meals.

Additionally, LPG will be necessary for other needs and for those lacking piped connections, Malik highlighted.

Regarding fuel prices, Malik recalled the recent reduction and noted that the international market has dropped. He expressed optimism about better news being announced before the revision of petrol and diesel prices. Malik acknowledged that Pakistan is facing several challenges concerning the availability of LPG. He mentioned that some individuals are attempting to exploit the situation following the closure of the western border, with consumers being offered LPG at Rs700-800 per kilogram.

The minister stated that efforts are underway to build Pakistan's energy security framework from scratch, lamenting the lack of work done on fuel storage facilities and refineries. Malik regretted that no efforts had been made on the LPG supply chain before the war.

He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on the issue today, adding that the premier is personally leading efforts to rebuild the entire system, referred to as the energy security architecture. Malik noted that the war may have caught Pakistan off guard, but the country needed to improve its capacity to handle such challenges, starting with its infrastructure and energy security.