Hyderabad LPG Prices Soar to Rs580 as Gas Shortages Deepen

Liquefied petroleum gas prices have climbed as high as Rs580 per kilogram in Hyderabad as persistent natural gas shortages force households and businesses to seek alternative fuel. Consumers are paying nearly twice the official rate while demand, supply pressure and alleged profiteering intensify the burden on residents.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority fixed the October consumer price at Rs279.34 per kilogram, but retailers across Hyderabad are reportedly charging between Rs550 and Rs580. At the higher market rate, consumers are paying more than double the notified price, creating a substantial additional expense for families already affected by disrupted pipeline gas supplies.

Daily LPG demand in the city has crossed 50 tonnes as households increasingly depend on cylinders for cooking. Hotels, restaurants, tea stalls, rickshaws, mini-taxis and other commercial users are also competing for available supplies, placing additional pressure on a market served by around 250 retail shops across Hyderabad district.

LPG Union Association Hyderabad General Secretary Abdul Qadir alleged that registered producers were supplying the fuel to retailers at Rs520 per kilogram or more. He said shopkeepers then had to add transportation and operating expenses, pushing the final consumer price even higher. The association has raised complaints with the regulator, registered companies and district authorities.

Qadir said representatives had also discussed the situation with officials and LPG plant operators. Five plants reportedly operate in the wider Hyderabad-Jamshoro area, including three in Hyderabad and one each in Jamshoro and Kotri. He argued that reducing taxes could help lower prices, although no official tax reduction or immediate enforcement action has been announced.

The crisis has been aggravated by restricted natural gas availability. Domestic consumers reportedly receive gas during three limited daily windows, each lasting approximately three hours. Residents say low pressure and delays at the beginning of these periods reduce the usable supply further, disrupting cooking schedules and increasing reliance on costly cylinders.

Public frustration has begun moving onto the streets. Women from Amani Shah Colony in Latifabad Unit 11 staged a protest against prolonged gas shortages, blocked traffic and demanded action from the gas utility’s management. The demonstration reflected the direct effect of energy shortages on household routines and family budgets.

Similar price pressure has been reported elsewhere in Pakistan, with LPG selling for between Rs500 and Rs600 per kilogram despite the official October rate. Supply disruption, increased seasonal demand and weaknesses in price enforcement have been cited as factors behind the widening difference between notified and retail prices.

The immediate challenge for authorities is to determine where the price escalation begins and enforce the notified rate throughout the supply chain. Without improved natural gas availability, transparent LPG distribution and action against unjustified markups, Hyderabad’s households and small businesses could continue paying exceptionally high prices for an essential fuel.