The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has surged past the rates set by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), as market players exploit increased seasonal demand. Despite Ogra’s attempts to regulate prices, reports indicate that some LPG distributors are ignoring these limits, forcing consumers to bear inflated costs.

Ogra’s official notice caps the LPG price at Rs251.3 per kilogram. However, sources report that in many urban areas, LPG is being sold for as much as Rs280 to Rs300 per kilogram. This significant price hike has sparked consumer frustration and raised concerns about Ogra’s ability to enforce its pricing regulations effectively.

The scarcity of LPG at regulated prices is hitting lower-income households particularly hard, as they rely on LPG for cooking and heating. With colder months approaching, these families are struggling to afford the rising costs. The black market, reportedly operating without restraint, leaves consumers with little choice but to pay the elevated rates set by distributors.

The cost of a standard household LPG cylinder has also increased, with prices rising by up to Rs400, adding further financial strain on consumers. Sources allege that Ogra’s enforcement efforts are disproportionately targeting smaller shopkeepers rather than the major distributors and importers believed to be driving the price manipulation.

This selective enforcement has caused discontent among smaller vendors, who claim they are being unfairly penalized while major players remain unchallenged. Until Ogra and relevant authorities take decisive action to curb the unchecked price increases, consumers may continue to suffer under escalating LPG costs as winter demand further drives up prices.