Pakistan's LPG crisis deepens as prices hit 600 PKR/kg, hundreds of trucks stranded at Iran border

Pakistan closed the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings with Iran on October 17. The closures stopped normal cross-border movement, including LPG imports. Pakistan’s Balochistan government pointed to security concerns and efforts to curb smuggling. Iran’s foreign ministry gave a different explanation, citing technical issues.

The disruption mattered because Pakistan imports about 7,000 metric tonnes of LPG from Iran every day. More than 4,000 tonnes of that supply passes through Gabd-Rimdan alone, according to Shamsul Haq. With the crossings closed, those imports were halted. The sudden gap reduced fuel availability for traders and consumers.

Gabd-Rimdan reopened for Pakistani exports of perishable goods on Wednesday, but LPG imports remained stopped. Hundreds of trucks, including LPG tankers, were stranded on both sides. Pakistan’s Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry advised members to suspend new Iranian orders, while consultations on restarting trade were under way.

LPG means liquefied petroleum gas. It is a fuel stored as a liquid under pressure and burned as a gas. In general, households use it for cooking and heating, while businesses use it for kitchens, restaurants and other heat-producing work. These uses make reliable LPG supplies important, especially where other fuel options are unavailable or inconvenient.

The article shows how closely Pakistan’s fuel market is tied to LPG imports from Iran. Pakistan receives around 7,000 metric tonnes daily from Iran. When the border crossings closed, imports stopped. Traders then had less product to sell, while households and businesses still needed fuel. That imbalance quickly raised prices.

The pressure could grow as winter approaches, because demand for fuel may rise. Irfan Khokhar also said higher LPG prices were contributing to higher costs for other goods. The article does not quantify LPG’s full share of Pakistan’s energy use, but it clearly shows its importance to consumers and trade.

Pakistan imports around 7,000 metric tonnes of LPG daily from Iran, according to the Pakistan LPG Association. This is a large, continuing flow into Pakistan’s fuel market. It helps supply households and businesses that rely on LPG, so interruptions can affect availability and prices quickly.

More than 4,000 tonnes of the daily supply pass through Gabd-Rimdan alone, Shamsul Haq said. Comparing the figures, that crossing handles more than half of Pakistan’s reported daily LPG imports from Iran. The key mechanism is concentration: when one major route closes, a substantial part of the supply cannot reach traders and consumers.

The article says these imports were at a halt after the crossings closed. Gabd-Rimdan later reopened for Pakistani exports of perishable goods, but LPG imports remained stopped. If the interruption continues, shortages and prices could worsen, particularly as winter approaches and fuel demand may increase.

LPG cylinder prices rose sharply after the border crossings closed and Iranian imports stopped. Traders said a 12-kilogram cylinder increased from 4,500 Pakistani rupees to 7,000 rupees. This happened within days, showing how quickly a supply disruption can spread through the fuel market.

Prices varied by location. Irfan Khokhar said a 12-kilogram cylinder sold for around 7,000 rupees in Balochistan, 7,500 rupees in Lahore and 8,200 rupees in Skardu. In Lahore, Farhat Abbas said his price had more than doubled, from 250 rupees per kilogram to between 500 and 600 rupees.

Traders warned that prices could rise further if supplies stayed disrupted. Khokhar also linked expensive LPG to higher costs for other goods. Consumers were especially concerned because winter was approaching, when demand for fuel may rise. The uneven regional prices suggest transport and local availability also affect what buyers pay.

Border crossings are shared gateways for people, trucks and commercial cargo. When Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan closed, vehicles could not complete normal journeys between Pakistan and Iran. The disruption therefore affected more than fuel. It also interrupted shipments of potatoes, bananas and rice, along with other traded goods.

Haq said hundreds of trucks, including LPG tankers, were stranded on both sides. More than 1,000 Pakistani containers carrying potatoes, bananas and rice for Iran were also held up. The mechanism is straightforward: a shipment can move only when customs, security and road access allow it through. Closing the gateway leaves cargo waiting, regardless of its product.

Gabd-Rimdan later reopened for Pakistani exports of perishable goods, but LPG imports remained halted. Drivers reported waiting for days with limited basic amenities. One driver had waited more than a week. The Quetta chamber advised members to suspend new Iranian orders until further notice.

The article does not state that Pakistan has activated a specific alternative source or route. In general, Pakistan could replace disrupted Iranian LPG with domestic production, imports arriving by sea, or imports entering through other open land crossings. These are possible supply channels, not confirmed measures described in the report.

A replacement would work only if suppliers could provide enough LPG and Pakistan had the terminals, storage, trucks and distribution links to move it inland. Sea imports might reach ports before travelling by road or rail. Other land routes could shorten delivery distances, but they would depend on border access and security. Domestic output would avoid the crossing, but its available volume would matter.

The immediate reality is that Iranian imports were halted, while the article gives no evidence of a substitute already filling the gap. Prices had already climbed, and shortages could worsen before winter. Pakistan and Iran were consulting about restarting trade, which may restore the original flow sooner than building alternatives.

A sudden supply reduction means less LPG is available for the same number of buyers. Sellers and traders then face tighter stocks, while households and businesses still need fuel. Buyers may compete for the remaining cylinders, allowing prices to rise quickly. This is why the border closure affected prices within days rather than months.

The article provides a clear example. A 12-kilogram cylinder rose from 4,500 to 7,000 Pakistani rupees. In Lahore, one consumer’s price increased from 250 rupees per kilogram to 500-600 rupees. The mechanism is especially strong because Pakistan imports about 7,000 metric tonnes daily from Iran, with more than 4,000 tonnes using Gabd-Rimdan.

Winter could make the imbalance worse. Consumers may need more fuel, while the disrupted imports remain unavailable. Traders warned of further increases, and Irfan Khokhar linked higher LPG prices to rising costs for other goods. Consultations on restarting trade were under way.