Pakistan okays 50 percent increase in fixed gas charges for domestic consumers

A worker moves a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder at a workshop in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 17, 2018. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 29 June 2025
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Pakistan okays 50 percent increase in fixed gas charges for domestic consumers

  • Gas prices increased for general industries, power stations and independent power producers to shift partial burden
  • The move aligns with structural benchmarks agreed with the IMF, including rationalization of captive power tariffs

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has revised gas prices for the fiscal year 2025-26 and okayed a 50 percent increase in fixed charges for domestic consumers, effective from July 1, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) announced on Sunday.

The development comes days after the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the hike in fixed gas charges for domestic users and to shift the partial burden to bulk consumers, like the power sector and industry.

“Protected category to pay a fixed charge of Rs600 and meter rent of Rs40,” an OGRA notification said on Sunday. “Non-protected category to pay a fixed charge of Rs1,500, up to 1.5hm³ (cubic hectometers), while Rs3,000 for exceeding consumption of 1.5hm³ and meter rent of Rs40.”

While the government has increased the fixed charges, the sale prices of gas for both protected and non-protected consumers remain unchanged, according to the notification.

The government also kept prices for tandoors commercial units, compressed natural gas and ice factories unchanged, but increased the rates for general industries, power stations and independent power producers.

The move aligns with structural benchmarks agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including rationalization of captive power tariffs and a shift from subsidies to direct, targeted support for low-income consumers.


Blast kills six policemen in northwest Pakistan amid Afghanistan operation

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Blast kills six policemen in northwest Pakistan amid Afghanistan operation

  • The explosion targeted a police vehicle in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
  • It comes after Pakistan’s overnight ‘precision strikes’ against militant hideouts in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: At least six policemen were killed in an explosion in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the interior ministry said on Friday, amid Pakistan’s continuing strikes against alleged militant hideouts in Afghanistan.

The explosion took place in the Lakki Marwat district near a police vehicle following an attempted drone strike by Afghan Taliban forces in Kohat, according to Pakistani officials.

Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militant attacks in KP, which borders Afghanistan, by the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted assaults since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

“The brave soldiers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police sacrificed their lives today for the nation’s peaceful tomorrow,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said, lauding police personnel in the restive region.

In a statement issued from his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in Lakki Marwat and extended his prayers and best wishes for the deceased and injured personnel.

“We will never let sacrifices of police personnel and security forces go in vain,” he said. We are determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.”

The bomb attack came a day after two suspected militants were killed and four others were arrested during a joint operation conducted by police, counter-terrorism department and pro-government militias in the same district, police said.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of failing to rein in militant groups that it says use Afghan soil to plan and launch attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Last month, Pakistan conducted air strikes against what it said were Pakistani Taliban and Daesh targets in Afghanistan, provoking the Afghan side to retaliate across their shared border. The two neighbors have since been locked in a conflict.