KARACHI: In the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, four LPG vessels have arrived and anchored at Port Qasim, days after petrol shipments reached the country.
Chairman of the LPG Distributors Association of Pakistan, Irfan Khokhar, said the arrival of these consignments has significantly increased the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reserves.
He explained that the vessel ARIES brought approximately 11,000 metric tons of LPG, while the ship Atlantic and another carrier delivered 12,000 metric tons each.
Meanwhile, the vessel ULLSWATER reached the port with 3,700 tons of LPG, and MD23 transported an additional 3,500 tons, further boosting supply in the local market.
Khokhar noted that the government’s official LPG price stands at Rs225 per kilogram, but consumers are reportedly being charged Rs350 to Rs400 per kilogram.
He alleged that certain elements in the market are taking advantage of the situation by linking the price hike to Iran–United States tensions and the surge in international energy prices.
He also pointed out that LPG prices in the international market have increased by nearly $200 per ton due to the unstable conditions in the Middle East. Additionally, shipping costs have risen amid concerns about possible disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite these challenges, Khokhar expressed optimism that the arrival of multiple shipments at Port Qasim will help stabilize the market and may result in a drop in LPG prices in the coming days.
