# LPG supply and pricing instability in South Asia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lpg-supply-and-pricing-instability-in-south-asia
> Updated: 2026-10-16T09:21:01.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) availability and pricing have faced significant volatility in South Asia. In late September 2026, India reported that public-sector oil marketing companies were freezing new domestic LPG connections, forcing some consumers toward more expensive 10-kg composite cylinders. Simultaneously, Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) implemented a price increase for October 2026.

By mid-October, the situation in Pakistan escalated as market prices for an 11.8kg cylinder reached approximately Rs 5,000, far exceeding the OGRA maximum price of Rs 3,296. These shortages were attributed to import constraints, terminal delays at Gwadar, and shipment disruptions at the Taftan border. 

In response to these pressures, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected a proposal to auction LPG produced by state-owned enterprises. The rejection was based on the absence of a sufficient legal and regulatory framework and concerns that linking local prices to import parity could increase costs by at least 15 per cent. The Petroleum Division stated its goal is to maintain a competitive mechanism that prevents supply concentration and ensures availability in remote and hilly regions.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-16: Pakistan PM rejects state-owned LPG auction plan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has halted a proposal to auction state-produced LPG due to the lack of a legal framework, amid concerns over rising domestic fuel prices and supply concentration.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pakistan-pm-rejects-state-owned-lpg-auction-plan

### 2026-09-30: LPG markets face connection freezes and price hikes in India and Pakistan

LPG markets face disruptions as Indian distributors freeze new domestic connections and promote costlier composite cylinders, while Pakistan's OGRA raises LPG prices for October.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lpg-markets-face-connection-freezes-and-price-hikes-in-india-and-pakistan

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Cite as: LPG supply and pricing instability in South Asia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lpg-supply-and-pricing-instability-in-south-asia
