ISLAMABAD: Consumers in Pakistan may soon receive relief from high liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, with a reduction of up to Rs50 per kilogram expected within the next 48 hours following permission for Iranian LPG tankers loaded by October 16 to enter Pakistan.
Ali Haider, convener of the LPG Standing Committee of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said around 1,000 LPG bowzers were waiting at the Iran-Pakistan border.
He said the authorities had allowed import goods declarations (GDs) to be filed for the tankers, paving the way for their entry into Pakistan. According to Haider, LPG prices could begin declining within the next 24 hours as additional supplies reach the domestic market.
FPCCI Official Calls for Weekly LPG Price Reviews
Haider criticised the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) existing LPG pricing formula, arguing that prices should be reviewed weekly rather than monthly.
He said a weekly pricing mechanism would allow rates to respond more quickly to changes in supply and market conditions.
Pakistan Imports 22,000 Tonnes of LPG in October
Providing details about LPG imports, Haider said Pakistan had imported five LPG cargo ships during October, bringing the total imported quantity to approximately 22,000 tonnes.
He estimated that Pakistan’s daily LPG demand stood at between 12,000 and 13,000 tonnes, while Karachi alone accounted for daily demand of around 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes.
The arrival of the Iranian LPG tankers is expected to improve domestic supplies and potentially ease price pressures for consumers.
