KARACHI – Following the recent arrival of petrol shipments, four major vessels carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have successfully berthed at Port Qasim, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s energy reserves.
Irfan Khokhar, Chairman of the LPG Distributors Association, confirmed that Pakistan now holds ample stocks of the fuel. Providing a breakdown of the arrivals, he noted that the vessel ‘ARIES’ brought 11,000 metric tons, while ‘ATLANTIC’ and another ship delivered 12,000 metric tons each. Furthermore, the vessels ‘ULLSWATER’ and ‘MD23’ arrived with 3,700 and 3,500 metric tons respectively.
Market Price Discrepancy Despite the steady supply, Khokhar highlighted a significant gap between official rates and market reality. While the government has fixed the price at 225 PKR per kg, certain elements are reportedly charging citizens between 350 to 400 PKR per kg, citing global price hikes and US-Iran tensions as justification.
Global Context and Outlook The Chairman acknowledged that Middle East instability has pushed international LPG prices up by $200 per ton, with freight charges also rising due to concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. However, he expressed optimism that the arrival of these new consignments would lead to a visible reduction in domestic LPG prices in the coming days.
