LPG price up by Rs50 after Iran border closure

KARACHI: The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased by around Rs50 per kg across Pakistan as the suspension of its supply from Iran after the closure of the border with the neighbouring country over coronavirus fears has created a shortage of the commodity.

A domestic cylinder of LPG is being sold for Rs500 and a commercial one for Rs2,000 as the price of the gas has hit Rs200 per kg.

Government working on new LPG policy

Several container trucks transporting LPG are stranded at the Pak-Iran border. Pakistan imports around 1,000 metric tonnes of LPG from Iran every year.

According to sources, Pakistan does not have a long-term policy for the LPG sector. The LPG Distributors Association has requested the government to take notice of the situation and seek other options to avert a crisis.

Pakistan had closed its border with Iran on Sunday following a spike in the novel coronavirus cases in the neighbouring country. So far, 95 cases have been reported in Iran and the death toll has reached 16.