Islamabad, January 6, 2026 — In a major relief for households and businesses, the federal government has decided not to increase gas prices for the next six months across all consumer categories. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Tuesday that the decision was taken on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, ensuring price stability for the remainder of the current fiscal period.
The announcement was made during the 12th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum, chaired by Syed Mustafa Mehmood, where key developments in the gas and LNG sectors were reviewed. The minister informed the committee that gas tariffs would remain unchanged for all consumers, offering much-needed relief amid rising living costs.
Briefing the committee, Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan has successfully concluded negotiations with Qatar to divert surplus LNG cargoes to the international market while fully honoring contractual obligations. He emphasized that Qatar has remained a reliable and strategic energy partner, particularly at times when several global suppliers failed to meet commitments.
Highlighting progress in gas sector reforms, the minister said the circular debt flow has been effectively controlled, with no creation of fresh circular debt. He added that gas supply to domestic consumers has been enhanced nationwide, and no local gas field is currently under curtailment. To prevent load-shedding, the power sector is also purchasing gas beyond its projected demand.
Managing Directors of SNGPL and SSGC briefed the committee on operational improvements, reporting a significant reduction in Unaccounted-for Gas (UFG) losses. SNGPL reduced losses from 9% to 5%, while SSGC brought them down from 17% to 10%. The deployment of IoT-based monitoring systems has further improved real-time oversight of gas networks.
Additionally, gas supply hours have been extended from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm during winter to maximize public relief. The committee praised the government’s reforms, improved governance, and consumer-focused initiatives in the petroleum and gas sector.