QUETTA: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has completed preparations for a sharp increase in gas prices for the new financial year and has submitted formal applications to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), sources said.
According to the applications, SSGC has demanded an increase in the average gas price by Rs 306 per MMBTU. Proposals submitted by both gas utilities — Sui Southern and Sui Northern — have estimated a total of Rs 1,650 billion to be collected in the next financial year to cover expenses and address the previous shortfall.
OGRA will conduct hearings on the applications before issuing a final decision on the price hike. The move is likely to further increase the financial burden on consumers across the country.
Due to regional tensions LPG prices in Quetta have surged by nearly 100 rupees per kilogram over the past month. The price has now reached around 370 rupees per kg, sharply increasing expenses for domestic users, hotels, and tea stalls.
Traders said supply has been affected by border disruptions with Iran, a key source of LPG for the region. When cross-border supplies decline, demand rises and prices spike. Retailer Hashim Ahmed said prices increased by about 35 rupees per kg during the Eid period alone, with a broader surge recorded in recent weeks.
Small businesses that rely heavily on LPG are among the worst affected. Ali Ahmed Khan, a tea shop owner in Quetta, said rising gas prices have made it difficult to sustain operations. He said input costs, including flour, milk, and sugar, have already increased, leaving little room for profit.
He added that tea shops consume large volumes of LPG daily. Higher fuel costs directly raise operating expenses. He said he is considering increasing the price of a cup of tea by around 20 rupees to offset losses.
