SNGPL extends ban on new gas connections indefinitely and halts commercial supply to tandoors and hotels

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has extended its ban on new gas connections for an indefinite period, ARY News reported on 1 November, citing company sources. The same sources said SNGPL has also stopped supplying gas to commercial tandoors and hotels.

What changed

• New domestic and commercial connection requests stay frozen. SNGPL sources said the Ministry of Petroleum imposed the ban and that restoration is expected only when tensions in the US-Iran conflict subside.
• Thousands of consumers who paid the urgent processing fee still have no connection.
• Gas is being distributed strictly by a designated schedule, according to the sources.

Why supply is short

Imported RLNG supply has been disrupted by the conflict, and winter has pushed demand up sharply, so even domestic consumers are hard to serve consistently. The sources also said the RLNG shortfall has deepened the LPG supply problem. On the price side, RLNG for October was set up to 15.27% higher, and QatarEnergy has extended its LNG force majeure for Pakistani buyers to the end of December. Marketers are separately warning of an LPG strike from 16 November.

What households and businesses can do

• Do not pay a middleman for a "fast" connection while the ban is in force; SNGPL says none are being issued.
• Estimate your winter bill with the gas bill calculator before switching heating or cooking fuel.
• Compare the monthly cost of LPG, electric heaters and gas using our calculators before you buy appliances.

SNGPL has not published an official notification on its website at the time of writing; the details above come from company sources quoted by ARY News. We will update this page when an official notice appears.