LPG is selling for nearly double the government-fixed rate in retail markets in Lahore, with residents accusing authorities of failing to enforce price controls even as a parallel Sui gas shortage pushes more households toward the costlier alternative fuel.
Retailers across the city are charging between Rs400 and Rs430 per kilogram for liquefied petroleum gas, compared to the official rate of Rs241 per kilogram set by the government. The price gap has persisted for weeks, with no visible enforcement action against dealers selling above the fixed rate.
The surge in LPG demand comes as Sui gas consumers report low pressure and supply shortages across Lahore, forcing many households to rely on LPG cylinders as a backup fuel source for cooking and heating. This has created a dual burden for residents, who continue paying their regular Sui gas bills while also purchasing LPG at inflated black-market rates.
Residents have criticised the lack of oversight, saying middle-income households are bearing the brunt of the price disparity with no mechanism to hold retailers accountable. They have called on the government to ensure LPG is sold at the officially notified rate and to take action against dealers profiting from the shortage.
The gap between notified and retail prices raises questions about the enforcement capacity of provincial price control authorities, who are responsible for monitoring compliance with government-set rates for essential commodities including LPG.
