Households that rely on bottled gas will pay more from 1 November 2026, after the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) raised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices for the month. The official price of an 11.8-kilogram domestic cylinder has risen by about Rs173 to Rs3,470, from Rs3,296 in October. The consumer price per kilogram is now Rs294.1, up from Rs279.3, an increase of 5.27 per cent.

The regulator linked the rise to a 6.47 per cent increase in the Saudi Aramco contract price, a key international benchmark, partly offset by a small movement in the exchange rate. The November notification also raised the price of a 45.4-kilogram commercial cylinder by Rs669 to Rs13,351, increasing costs for businesses that use LPG for cooking or heating.

The official price is not the price many pay

The central issue for consumers is the gap between the notified rate and market prices. Reports based on Dawn's coverage say LPG is selling in the open market at up to Rs630 per kilogram, more than twice the official rate, while company-operated franchises are charging up to Rs400 per kilogram. Supply shortages linked to the US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Iranian border have been cited as a driver of the spike, putting particular pressure on households without access to piped gas.

What comes next for LPG policy

The pricing dispute is unfolding alongside a wider policy review. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed an eight-member ministerial committee to examine proposed LPG reforms, including cylinder standards and the local supply framework, with one month to report. LPG marketing companies have warned they will strike from 16 November if a new policy sidelines private businesses or reverses deregulation. Until enforcement closes the gap with market prices, the notified cylinder price will remain a benchmark for many buyers rather than the amount actually charged.