The caretaker government’s decision to implement a gas price increase of over 172 per cent for non-protected domestic consumers has left many shocked and outraged.
Starting on November 1, the revised prices are set to impose a significant financial burden on households already grappling with financial difficulties.
According to the notification released by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the new gas prices represent a substantial hike across various consumption levels.
For instance, customers consuming 100 cubic metres of gas per month will now be charged Rs1,000, up from the previous rate of Rs400. Those using 150 cubic metres will see their monthly costs rise from Rs600 to Rs1,200.
On the other hand, the price for a monthly consumption of 200 mmbtu has increased to Rs1,600 from the previous Rs800, and for users consuming 300 mmbtu monthly, the cost has risen to Rs3,000 from Rs1,100.
Moreover, the charge for consuming 400 mmbtu of gas per month has gone up from Rs2,000 to Rs3,500. For those using more than 400 mmbtu per month, the new rate is Rs4,000, up from the earlier Rs3,100.
This significant and unexpected price surge is anticipated to have a severe impact on household budgets, especially for low-income families who heavily depend on natural gas for cooking and heating.