Pakistan lifts ban on new gas connections and declares national climate emergency

Pakistan’s federal Cabinet on Wednesday lifted the ban on new gas connections and declared a nationwide agricultural and environmental emergency in response to rising public concerns and the mounting impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

The decisions were announced at a joint press conference by Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, following a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister and the cabinet have taken a crucial decision to allow new gas connections,” said Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. “This move will bring relief to citizens who have long faced difficulties due to the ban.”

The minister explained that while RLNG (Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas) is costlier than domestic gas, it remains 30–35% cheaper than imported LPG, which has become unaffordable for many households. He stressed that LPG is the most expensive fuel option, with cylinder refill costs burdening the public, and that lifting the ban on gas connections would ease this hardship.

The cabinet also reviewed outcomes from the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China, particularly in areas of energy and environmental cooperation, while placing the climate crisis high on the agenda.

Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced that the government has decided to impose a nationwide environmental emergency in recognition of the growing threats posed by climate change and extreme weather events such as floods.

“Climate change is a global issue, and its impacts are being felt in Pakistan as well,” Dr. Chaudhry said. “The Prime Minister has directed the Minister for Climate Change to submit a detailed report within 15 days, after which the cabinet will formulate a comprehensive strategy to tackle the crisis.”

In parallel, the cabinet also declared an agricultural emergency to assess and address the widespread damage to crops and livelihoods caused by recent floods across the country.

“We must determine the full extent of agricultural losses and explore ways to compensate farmers,” Dr. Tariq said, adding that both emergencies require the active support and coordination of provincial governments.

To this end, the Prime Minister has decided to convene a meeting of all provincial chief ministers, where the federal government will present the current situation and seek joint action to mitigate the impacts of both the climate and agricultural crises.