LPG price surge cuts earnings for Lahore rickshaw drivers

“LPG prices have surged after border-crossing closures disrupted imports from Iran, reducing earnings for many Lahore rickshaw drivers.”

— Editorial Team

Key points

LPG prices have surged after border-crossing closures disrupted imports from Iran, reducing earnings for many Lahore rickshaw drivers.
Traders said a 12-kilogram cylinder rose 56% to Rs7,000, while drivers struggle to pass higher fuel costs on to passengers.

Business|By Editorial Team|Published 03-Nov-26|Latest update 11/4/2026, 4:43:53 AM|2 min read

A sharp increase in liquefied petroleum gas prices is putting severe pressure on rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many vehicles rely on LPG as a lower-cost fuel. Drivers say the rise has reduced already modest daily earnings and made it harder to cover rent, fuel and household expenses.

The increase followed the closure of two border crossings with Iran on October 17, which disrupted LPG imports, according to traders. Before the closures, Pakistan imported about 7,000 metric tonnes of LPG a day from Iran, the Pakistan LPG Association said.

Traders said the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder rose by 56% within days, reaching Rs7,000 in the open market. That works out at about Rs583 per kilogramme, adding significantly to the operating costs of drivers who refill several times during a working day.

The Awami Rickshaw Union says around 70% of its 43,000 members’ auto-rickshaws and nearly 8,000 Qingqis run on LPG. The price shock therefore affects a large section of drivers and passengers who depend on three-wheelers for daily travel and income.

One Lahore driver said he now earns about $3 on some days, compared with about $6.50 previously. He said he pays Rs600 a day to rent his rickshaw and spends Rs300 to Rs400 per refill, often needing fuel four or five times daily.

Drivers face a difficult choice between increasing fares and absorbing the higher cost. Passengers are often unwilling or unable to pay more, which can leave drivers with lower earnings even after longer working hours.

The reasons for the border disruption have been disputed. Balochistan authorities cited security and smuggling concerns, while Iran’s foreign ministry referred to technical issues. Iran’s ambassador later said there were no Iranian restrictions on LPG exports and attributed the disruption to changes in Pakistan’s import paperwork.

The LPG rise adds to broader cost-of-living pressure. The immediate issue for drivers and households is whether supplies stabilise and prices fall, while authorities face pressure to clarify import arrangements and prevent further disruption to a fuel used widely for transport, cooking and heating.