Pakistan’s LPG stocks adequate as shipments dock

Pakistan has sufficient reserves of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with several shipments already docked and more expected to arrive before the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to the chairman of the LPG Distributors Association.

Irfan Khokhar, chairman LPG Distributors Association, told Nukta that two LPG vessels have already anchored at Port Qasim: the ship ARIES, carrying 11,000 metric tons, and ATLANTIC, carrying 12,000 metric tons.

He said two additional shipments are also on the way and will reach Pakistan before Eid al-Fitr. The vessel ULLSWATER is transporting 3,700 tons of LPG, while another ship, MD23, is bringing 3,500 tons.

Khokhar said the government has set the official LPG price at PKR 225 per kilogram. However, he alleged that a “gas mafia” is selling LPG between PKR 350 and 450 per kilogram, citing the energy crisis triggered by tensions between the United States and Iran and a sharp rise in global crude oil prices.

“This is a clear injustice to the public, which is already burdened by inflation,” Khokhar said.

He added that uncertainty in the Middle East linked to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has pushed global LPG prices up by about $200 per ton. Shipping costs have also increased due to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite those pressures, Khokhar said Pakistan currently has ample LPG supplies. He accused profiteers of spreading negative rumors to create panic among consumers and encourage large-scale buying.

He expressed hope that LPG prices will stabilize in the coming days as signals of a potential ceasefire emerge and additional LPG consignments reach the country.