The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has criticised October 2026 increases of 13.89% to 15.27% in regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) prices, warning that the revision will raise industrial energy bills, lift production costs and weaken the competitiveness of Pakistani goods abroad.
In a joint statement, PIAF Chairman Faheemur Rehman Saigol, Senior Vice Chairman Nasrullah Mughal and Vice Chairman Tahir Manzoor Chaudhary said the hike came while factories were already dealing with high electricity and gas tariffs, heavy taxation, costly financing and rising operating expenses. Repeated energy-price changes, they said, make it harder for manufacturers to plan output, control spending and keep pace with regional rivals.
What OGRA’s latest RLNG notification changed
PIAF pointed to a notification from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Pakistan’s fuel-price regulator, that raised RLNG rates on the transmission and distribution systems of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) by as much as 15.27%. The group said that step reversed a 20% reduction allowed in September and added fresh uncertainty for businesses already under financial strain.
Saigol said energy is among the largest cost items in industrial production, so any rise in gas prices feeds directly into manufacturing expenses, especially in energy-intensive sectors. He warned that firms would eventually pass higher costs to buyers through dearer locally made goods, adding to inflationary pressure and eroding household purchasing power.
Price details cited by PIAF
According to Saigol, the average delivered ex-ship price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose to $10.75 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in October from $10.06 in September. The RLNG sale price on SNGPL’s distribution network increased 14.01% to $17.3259 per MMBtu, while the SSGCL distribution network price rose 15.27% to $16.3959 per MMBtu.
He called on the government to build a more balanced energy pricing system that shields industrial users from sudden and excessive swings. While recognising that international energy prices affect domestic fuel costs, he argued that productive sectors should not carry the full burden without regard to how much extra cost they can absorb. Pakistani manufacturers, he said, already face tough competition from regional economies that enjoy relatively cheaper energy, stronger infrastructure and more business-friendly policies.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- September: A 20% reduction in RLNG prices was allowed, according to PIAF.
- September: The average delivered ex-ship LNG price stood at $10.06 per MMBtu.
- October 2026: OGRA’s notification raised RLNG prices for SNGPL and SSGCL transmission and distribution networks by 13.89% to 15.27%, PIAF said.
- October: The average delivered ex-ship LNG price rose to $10.75 per MMBtu.
- October: SNGPL distribution RLNG reached $17.3259 per MMBtu (up 14.01%); SSGCL distribution RLNG reached $16.3959 per MMBtu (up 15.27%).
Aasan alfaaz mein
October mein industry ke liye RLNG (gas) ke rates 13.89% se 15.27% tak barh gaye hain. PIAF ka kehna hai ke yeh barhaao September wali 20% kami ko wapas le aaya hai. Factory owners ke mutabiq mehngi gas se production ka kharcha badhega. Is ka asar aakhir mein local products ki qeematon aur mehengai par bhi pad sakta hai.
