Pakistan has reimposed a ban on new domestic gas connections after disruptions in RLNG supply, a move that has left thousands of applicants in uncertainty and reignited concerns over the country’s growing energy challenges.
The decision comes only a few months after an earlier ban on new connections had been lifted.
According to reports, the renewed restriction is tied to the high cost of supplying gas through imported Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG). Officials pointed out that connections based on RLNG are significantly more expensive, with consumer bills reaching up to four times the cost of conventional gas.
Earlier, the demand notice fee for a domestic gas connection was around Rs6,500. Under the RLNG system, this amount increased to roughly Rs23,500, while priority applications required an additional urgent fee of Rs25,000. In some cases, consumers paid as much as Rs50,000 to obtain a new RLNG-based connection, raising serious affordability concerns.
Reports also said that before the latest ban, connections were being issued on a priority basis to clear pending applications. The renewed suspension is expected to further delay access for thousands of households.
