New Gas Connections Ban Extended Indefinitely
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has extended the new gas connections ban indefinitely, as disrupted supplies of regasified liquefied natural gas widen the shortfall at the start of winter. The decision leaves thousands of households without piped gas, including consumers who have already paid an urgent fee for a connection.
ProPakistani reported the extension on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the decision. The report said other connections, including commercial connections for tandoors and hotels, have also stopped from this month.
The ban first took effect in April, over the same disruption to regasified liquefied natural gas, known as RLNG. At that time, the supply shock was already straining a system that struggles to meet winter demand. Now, with cold weather setting in and demand rising sharply, the company says it cannot guarantee supply even to existing domestic consumers.
New gas connections ban: why SNGPL extended it
The core problem is a gap between supply and demand. Sources told ProPakistani that RLNG supplies have been disrupted and the shortfall in the existing system has grown. Winter pushes household gas use higher, as families cook more and heat their homes. That seasonal rise makes the gap harder to close.
SNGPL officials said the ban was imposed by the Ministry of Petroleum. They added that connections are only likely to return once the war between Iran and the United States stops. That condition ties a domestic household service to a regional conflict, which helps explain why officials will not give a date.
The regional picture matters here. Feature Pakistan has reported the strain on energy routes in the Gulf in Iran Can Reopen Hormuz in Two Days, Araghchi Says, where Tehran set out conditions for restoring normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Gas supplies, shipping and prices across the region remain sensitive to that standoff. For households in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the effect arrives as a simple fact: no new connection, and no timetable.
What it means for households without piped gas
For a family without piped gas, liquefied petroleum gas is the main alternative. LPG is the fuel most households turn to when a gas connection is not available, and it is getting costlier.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has set the official price of an 11.8 kilogram domestic cylinder at Rs3,470.09 for November. That is up by Rs173.86 from October. Yet LPG is reportedly selling at around Rs600 per kilogram in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other parts of the country. At that rate, a cylinder costs about Rs7,080, which is roughly Rs3,610 above the official price.
The gap between the official price and the market price is the part that hits household budgets hardest. A family using two cylinders a month in winter would pay around Rs14,160 at market rates, compared with about Rs6,940 at the official price. That difference of more than Rs7,000 a month is a large sum for a low income household, and it comes at the time of year when fuel use is highest.
Who is affected, and what happens next
Frequently asked questions
Has SNGPL banned new gas connections permanently?
No. The ban has been extended indefinitely, which means no end date has been announced. Officials link restoration to an improvement in gas supplies, and to an end to the war between Iran and the United States.
When was the ban first imposed?
The government first halted new gas connections in April, over the same RLNG disruption. The November extension continues that halt into the winter season.
Does the ban cover commercial connections too?
Yes. Sources told ProPakistani that other connections, including commercial connections for tandoors and hotels, have also been stopped from this month.
What is the official LPG cylinder price for November?
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has set the official price of an 11.8 kilogram domestic cylinder at Rs3,470.09 for November, up Rs173.86 from October. Market prices reported in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are far higher, at around Rs600 per kilogram.
What should fee-paying applicants expect?
Applicants who paid the urgent fee have no date for their connections yet. Restoration depends on gas supplies improving, so they should follow announcements from SNGPL and the petroleum ministry.
