The Pakistan LPG Marketers Association has called off the strike it had planned for November 16, after talks with Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi at the Governor's House in Karachi on Monday.

The association had announced the strike because it said it had not been consulted on the government's new LPG policy. After the meeting, the marketers' body postponed the planned action, and the governor assured the delegation that its concerns would be taken to the relevant ministry.

Governor assures marketers on LPG policy concerns

Governor Hashmi met a delegation of the Pakistan LPG Marketers Association (PLPGMA) in Karachi and discussed LPG supply and related policy matters. The talks took place against the background of the evolving situation in the Middle East and the energy challenges facing Pakistan.

PLPGMA Senior Vice President Ali Haider led the delegation. The association said the strike had been planned for November 16 over a lack of consultation on the government's new LPG policy, and that the decision to postpone it followed the governor's assurance that the marketers' concerns would be conveyed to the ministry concerned.

The governor stressed that an uninterrupted LPG supply was essential at a time of energy challenges. He noted that Pakistan imports 70 per cent of its LPG, making supply sensitive to regional events and to disruptions in import routes.

Price outlook and supply pressures

Haider said the contract price of imported LPG would likely drop in December if the US-Iran war ended or reduced in intensity. The comment reflects the pressure that the conflict in the Gulf region has placed on fuel supplies and prices in Pakistan.

LPG is used by households, the transport sector and outdoor dining outlets across Pakistan, and a recent surge in pricing amid disruptions caused by the Iran war has drawn widespread criticism. The fuel is a cooking and heating staple for millions of households that do not have piped gas, so any interruption in supply is felt quickly in homes and small businesses.

The marketers' decision removes the immediate threat of a supply disruption on November 16, when the strike had been due to begin. Households that rely on LPG cylinders would have been exposed to shortages if the strike had gone ahead as planned.

What happens next

The governor's assurance now puts the focus on the federal ministry, which the marketers expect to hear their concerns on the new LPG policy. The association has not said what further action it would take if its concerns are not addressed, but for now the planned strike is off.

The episode underlines how closely Pakistan's LPG market is tied to events beyond its borders. With around 70 per cent of the country's LPG imported, according to the governor, supply and prices remain exposed to regional tensions and to decisions taken on trade and energy policy in Islamabad.

For consumers, the immediate outcome is that LPG supplies will continue without the disruption that a strike on November 16 would have caused, as winter approaches and demand for cooking and heating fuel rises.