LAHORE: The Ministry of Petroleum has decided to suspend issuance of new gas connections across the country, according to official sources.
The proposed ban would apply to both domestic households and commercial users, they added.
Sources said the decision comes after the short-lived resumption of new connections in October last year, which was aimed at addressing ongoing energy supply concerns.
They noted that newly issued connections were being linked to imported Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), making them significantly more expensive than earlier domestic gas supplies. Under this system, monthly bills for new consumers were reportedly several times higher than previous rates.
The cost of obtaining a connection had also increased sharply, with demand notice fees rising from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 23,500, while additional charges of around Rs. 25,000 were being applied for priority installation. Overall, a new RLNG-based connection was costing consumers nearly Rs. 50,000.
Officials further explained that RLNG pricing is tied to international energy markets, particularly global crude oil rates, making it more volatile and costly compared to local natural gas supply.
The final approval and formal notification of the ban are expected after internal consultations, sources added.
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