Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to Rs580 per kilogram in Hyderabad as persistent natural gas shortages force households to depend on alternative fuel for cooking. The rising prices are adding to the financial pressure on consumers already struggling with unreliable gas supplies from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
Retailers are reportedly selling LPG at prices ranging from Rs550 to Rs580 per kilogram, compared with the official rate of Rs279.34 per kilogram fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) for October. The sharp difference between the notified rate and market prices has triggered disputes between customers and shopkeepers over the cost of an essential household fuel.
According to Abdul Qadir, general secretary of the LPG Union Association Hyderabad, producers are supplying LPG to retailers at prices significantly higher than the official rate. He said some suppliers were charging Rs520 per kilogram or more, leaving retailers to add transportation and other operating expenses. Qadir added that the association had repeatedly contacted OGRA, LPG companies and local administration officials to seek intervention, but the situation had not improved.
Hyderabad’s daily LPG demand has reportedly exceeded 50 tonnes as residents increasingly turn to the fuel amid an unreliable natural gas supply. Qadir identified five LPG plants operating in the wider Hyderabad-Jamshoro region, including three in Hyderabad, one in Jamshoro and another in Kotri. He also suggested that reducing government taxes could help lower prices. Around 250 shops across Hyderabad district reportedly sell LPG, which is used by households, rickshaws, Qingqi vehicles, mini-taxis, Suzuki vehicles, hotels, restaurants and tea stalls.
Natural gas shortages continue to disrupt daily routines, with domestic consumers reportedly receiving gas for three hours at a time, three times a day. Low pressure and delays in restoring supply have added to the difficulties. Some residents complain that air passes through their pipelines for the first 15 to 20 minutes of the scheduled supply period, further reducing the time available for cooking.
Meanwhile, women from Amani Shah Colony in Latifabad Unit 11 staged a protest at Khuda Hafiz Board Chari against prolonged gas outages. The demonstrators chanted slogans against SSGC management, and the protest disrupted traffic in the area. The continuing gas shortages and steep LPG prices have intensified public frustration, leaving households facing growing challenges in meeting their daily cooking needs.
