Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) associations based in Karachi have announced a nationwide strike from 16 November 2026, saying they will shut businesses across Pakistan if the government does not accept their demands within 15 days.
The warning followed an emergency meeting of LPG associations at which participants rejected a new government pricing formula for LPG. Ali Haider, chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, said the formula could push prices up by 25 to 30 percent.
Why associations oppose the new formula
According to Ali Haider, officials decided to apply the rate used for LPG brought in by sea to supplies nationwide. He said that approach would also make domestically produced LPG much dearer, even though that gas makes up about 30 percent of the country’s supply.
He added that around 90 percent of LPG in Pakistan is moved by bowsers—road tankers that carry cylinders and bulk loads inland—rather than by sea. Associations argue that pricing the whole market on the seaborne rate does not match how most gas actually reaches homes and businesses.
What the associations are demanding
LPG associations want the government to drop the new formula and address their pricing concerns before the mid-November deadline. They say failure to do so will trigger the nationwide strike and a broader shutdown of related businesses.
No official response from the government is included in the available accounts of the announcement. The associations presented their stance after the emergency meeting and tied the strike date to the 15-day window they set for acceptance of their demands.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 31 October 2026: LPG associations hold an emergency meeting in which they reject the government’s new LPG pricing formula.
- 31 October 2026: Associations announce a nationwide strike from 16 November 2026 and warn of business shutdowns if demands are not accepted within 15 days.
- 16 November 2026: Planned start of the nationwide LPG strike unless the government meets the associations’ demands.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Karachi ki LPG associations ne kaha hai ke 16 November 2026 se mulk bhar mein strike ho sakti hai. Un ka kehna hai ke sarkar ka naya rate formula LPG 25 se 30 percent mehnga kar sakta hai. Agar 15 din mein un ki baat na mani gayi to businesses band hone ki warning di gayi hai. Ghar aur dukan wale LPG users ke liye is ka matlab yeh hai ke rates aur supply dono pe asar pad sakta hai.
