ISLAMABAD: The government’s latest announcement of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices has raised fresh concerns among consumers, who say they are being forced to pay significantly higher rates in the open market despite the official price notification.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed the LPG price at Rs294.07 per kilogram for November, following an increase of Rs14.73 per kg. However, reports from different parts of the country suggest that LPG is being sold for as much as Rs600 per kilogram, more than double the officially notified rate.
According to OGRA’s notification, the price of an 11.8-kilogram domestic LPG cylinder has been increased by Rs173.86 to Rs3,470.09 for November, compared with Rs3,296.23 in October.
The revised prices came into effect nationwide on November 1, 2026.
The wide gap between the officially notified price and reported market rates has raised serious questions about the government’s ability to ensure compliance with its own pricing regulations.
At Rs600 per kilogram, consumers are reportedly paying Rs305.93 more than the official rate, placing an additional financial burden on households already struggling with rising living costs.
Consumers are questioning the purpose of official price notifications if LPG is not available in the market at the rates announced by the regulator. They are also asking whether the government’s responsibility ends with issuing price notifications or extends to ensuring that consumers can actually purchase the commodity at the officially prescribed rates.
The situation is particularly concerning ahead of the winter season, when demand for LPG is expected to increase. Households in areas without access to piped natural gas depend heavily on LPG for cooking and other daily needs, making them especially vulnerable to rising prices.
Consumers have called on the government and relevant regulatory authorities to move beyond issuing price notifications and take effective action to ensure compliance in the market. They have also demanded strict action against overcharging and profiteering, along with measures to ensure the availability of LPG at officially notified prices.
The key question facing the government is whether announcing an official price is enough, or whether it must also ensure that ordinary consumers can actually buy LPG at that rate.
