ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the reopening of new gas connections for domestic consumers, ending a four-year ban imposed in 2021 due to a severe gas shortage.
“Today, a longstanding public demand has been met,” the premier said while addressing a ceremony marking the launch of new regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) connections in Islamabad.
Shehbaz said that when his government came to power in 2022, gas provision was one of the most pressing challenges. “There was immense public pressure for new connections, but we simply didn’t have the gas to provide. The infrastructure was built, but the gas wasn’t available. Today, the day has arrived when standard RLNG connections are being opened,” he stated.
The prime minister revealed that hundreds of thousands of applications for new gas connections had been pending, assuring that the process to address them would now begin.
Last month, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that the federal cabinet had approved the resumption of new gas connections across the country. He said both Sui gas companies had completed procurement for meters and pipelines and were ready to process pending applications once the official notification was issued.
Applicants waiting for natural gas connections will have the option to switch to RLNG-based connections by paying a security fee to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Malik said. However, he noted that RLNG would be costlier than domestic natural gas, though around 30–35 percent cheaper than liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Shehbaz also recalled that his party had previously “ended the darkness” caused by 20-hour power outages in 2013, reiterating his government’s commitment to resolving the country’s energy challenges and ensuring sustainable supply for households.
