Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik on Monday directed gas companies to implement all necessary measures to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted gas supply for domestic consumers during the winter season. The move comes as the government seeks to ease public concerns over gas shortages, which have become a recurring issue in recent years.
Chairing a high-level meeting on seasonal gas load management, the minister stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens do not face unnecessary hardship during the colder months. He stated that all required instructions had already been issued to the relevant companies and that the ministry would closely monitor compliance.
According to an official statement, the managing directors of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) briefed the minister on the current gas availability situation across the country. The meeting also reviewed updates regarding the issuance of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) domestic connections—an important component of the government’s strategy to supplement natural gas supplies.
Winter Supply Expected to Be Better Than Last Year
Minister Malik emphasised that household gas supply would remain a top priority throughout the season. He noted that this winter’s domestic gas provision was already “significantly better” compared to last year, providing some relief to the public as temperatures begin to fall.
SNGPL’s managing director informed the meeting that gas was being supplied to residential consumers not only during peak cooking hours but also from 5 am to 10 pm, which marks a notable improvement from previous years when supply remained limited to short intervals. Malik said this enhanced distribution schedule reflected the government’s commitment to public convenience and stability in essential services.
Concern Over Gas Shortages and National Demand
The issue of gas shortages has become a major political and social concern across Pakistan. While industries have faced periodic disruptions, it is the shortfall in household supply that has drawn the most criticism, especially during winter when demand for cooking and heating sharply increases.
Pakistan possesses only 0.4% of the world’s natural gas reserves, yet accounts for 1.1% of global consumption, according to Worldometer’s global energy statistics. This mismatch highlights the strain on the country’s limited domestic resources as demand continues to rise.
Natural gas is distributed nationwide primarily through pipeline networks, with households consuming nearly 50% of the total available supply. Other major consumers include the fertiliser sector, independent power producers, and various industrial and CNG sectors. This heavy reliance on natural gas across multiple sectors puts additional pressure on supply during winter months.
Resumption of New Gas Connections After Four-Year Ban
Last month, the federal government officially launched the process to provide RLNG connections to domestic consumers, marking the resumption of new household gas connections for the first time since 2021. The ban, imposed four years ago, had been introduced due to rapidly declining natural gas reserves. As a result, many households were forced to shift to more expensive alternatives such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) for basic cooking and heating needs.
The decision to reinstate new connections through RLNG is seen as a crucial step toward easing the burden on consumers and diversifying Pakistan’s gas supply sources. RLNG—produced by re-gasifying imported LNG—offers a more reliable option for helping to meet high seasonal demand.
Government Agencies Fully Engaged
Officials from the Petroleum Division, SNGPL, SSGC, and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) attended the meeting, signalling strong coordination among key departments. The minister reiterated that maintaining winter gas supply is a collective responsibility and that government agencies must remain proactive to prevent shortages.
With winter approaching, the government expects that the combination of domestic production, RLNG supplementation, and improved distribution strategies will help ensure a smoother and more stable supply for millions of households across the country.
