Good news for Pakistanis relying on expensive gas cylinders 

RAWALPINDI: The government is considering lifting a nationwide ban on new domestic gas connections, a move that could benefit thousands of households currently dependent on costly and unsafe gas cylinders.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said a final decision would be taken soon, following consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Speaking during a visit to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC), Malik said, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and I have already discussed the issue of lifting the moratorium on new gas connections. We are scheduled to meet again soon to take a final decision.”

The ban on new gas connections was announced in December 2021 and implemented from March 2022, in an effort to manage dwindling natural gas supplies. However, the decision has forced many households to rely on gas cylinders, which are not only expensive but pose serious safety hazards.

There are thousands of homes, built years ago, that never received gas connections. People are forced to purchase LPG from private dealers, who charge arbitrary rates, exploiting consumers’ helplessness.

Residents have welcomed the potential lifting of the ban, although no exact date has been announced. Rayyan Masood, a resident of Islamabad’s Jinnah Garden, said his family has been living without a gas connection for over three years.

“We applied a long time ago but have not received any connection. I travel 11 kilometres to buy LPG cylinders because nearby agencies either don’t have supply or sell old, rusty cylinders that feel unsafe to use,” he said. “Carrying gas cylinders in a car is risky, but we have no other option.”

Malik acknowledged these concerns, citing frequent reports of cylinder explosions. He said the government was working to ensure safety and affordability in energy access.

According to official information on the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) website, security and service line charges for domestic gas connections are set at Rs6,000 for plots up to 10 marlas and Rs7,500 for plots larger than 10 marlas.

During his visit to SSGC, Malik stated that the energy sector was “like oxygen to the economy,” and that the government was working to align tariffs and supplies with international benchmarks.

He added that recovery signs in key economic sectors were emerging and could be strengthened by restoring stable energy supply. The petroleum ministry, in coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office, is also reviewing issues in both upstream and downstream energy sectors.

Malik said steps were being taken to ease public hardships in the upcoming budget.

Meanwhile, SNGPL’s Rawalpindi Region has intensified its crackdown on corruption and gas theft. The company terminated an official found guilty of serious misconduct following public complaints.

According to a formal order issued by General Manager Masam Ibrar, the employee was dismissed immediately and blacklisted from all SNGPL offices in the region. The man was accused of illegally installing commercial gas meters primarily for tandoors and charging Rs360,000 per meter.

A departmental inquiry led by Ibrar found the official guilty and recommended his termination. “We have zero tolerance for corruption within our department,” Ibrar said. “Alongside internal accountability, we are also aggressively pursuing gas theft cases.”

Dozens of FIRs have been registered under Sections 462-C and 462-D of the Gas Ordinance against individuals involved in stealing gas through illegal connections.

“Our teams have conducted successful raids in various areas of Rawalpindi where hundreds of feet of illegal gas pipelines were discovered. Many of these cases have now been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency for further investigation,” Ibrar said, adding that operations were being carried out without discrimination.

The expected lifting of the ban on new gas connections is likely to bring significant relief to many households, allowing them to shift away from unsafe alternatives and gain access to piped gas.

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