Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to as much as Rs 750 per kilogram in parts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, pushing cylinder costs above Rs 10,000 as supply disruptions linked to the closure of a key border crossing with Iran triggered shortages and concerns over profiteering. The price spike has hit households already facing limited access to natural gas, while LPG dealers across the country have shut thousands of shops in protest against alleged harassment by enforcement agencies and what they describe as the authorities' failure to act against companies accused of overcharging consumers, according to Pakistani media reports.
Pakistan has now reopened the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing with Iran in Balochistan's Gwadar district after a week-long suspension disrupted trade, stranded freight vehicles and heightened concerns over LPG supplies ahead of winter. Commercial consignments accompanied by consignment notes dated October 16 or earlier were allowed to cross when trade operations resumed on Saturday, Dawn reported. However, the reopening comes amid an ongoing LPG supply and pricing crisis.
