By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) said it hasn’t recommended any increase in gas tariffs for the current fiscal year, refuting media reports that a 41 percent hike was in the works.
OGRA, which oversees the pricing and supply of gas in the country, said in a statement it had yet to decide on the revenue requirements of the two state-owned gas companies, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
The regulator said it had held two public hearings in December 2023 on the petitions filed by the gas companies, but no final decision had been made.
“Some news circulating in media claiming that OGRA has recommended a substantial 41 percent increase in gas prices, awaiting government approval for implementation next month, is not based on facts,” the statement said.
The government, which faces pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to raise gas prices as part of a $3 billion loan programme, has committed to announce and implement OGRA’s recommended gas price by February 18, according to an amendment in the OGRA Ordinance.
Pakistan last raised gas prices in November 2023, following a staggering increase of up to 193% and 112% in the previous calendar year, sparking public outrage and protests.
The latest tariff restructuring, effective since November, divides domestic consumers into two categories: protected and non-protected. Consumers with an average consumption of more than 90 cubic meters per month are considered non-protected and face higher charges, while those using less are protected and pay lower rates.
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