ISLAMABAD – After a 13-year gap, Pakistanis may soon get new Sui Gas connections, but at a steep price. The government is preparing to lift the long-standing ban, though consumers will face much higher costs than before.
According to officials, the Petroleum Division has sent a summary to the federal cabinet, proposing 120,000 new Sui Gas connections in the first phase.
However, the connection fee will rise sharply, ranging from Rs40,000 to Rs50,000. Consumers will also be billed at imported LNG rates, estimated at around Rs3,900 per mmBtu, which is close to LPG prices.
Currently, more than 3.5 million applications for Sui Gas connections are pending. Insiders say only those who had earlier paid demand notices or urgent fees will be considered first. These applicants must also sign affidavits confirming they will not challenge the new conditions in court.
Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is already rationing supply. Most households receive gas for only 6 to 9 hours a day. Despite this shortage, the government is pushing ahead with new connections, even as the sector faces major financial losses and rising circular debt.
Data shows that over 3.25 million requests are still on hold due to the ban on indigenous gas supply. Of these, SNGPL has around 3 million pending applications, while Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is dealing with nearly 250,000.
Experts believe the move could provide some relief to long-waiting applicants but warn of affordability issues. With higher connection fees and costly imported gas rates, many households may find the new Sui Gas connections beyond their reach.
For now, the proposal awaits cabinet approval, leaving millions of consumers uncertain about when and how they will finally gain access to household gas supply.
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