Islamabad: The Petroleum Division has announced a new policy framework to resume household gas connections nationwide, following approval from the federal cabinet. The move ends a ban imposed in 2021 and comes in response to growing public demand for new connections.
Under the new framework, nearly three million pending applications for domestic gas connections will no longer be processed under the old system. Instead, applicants will be offered connections linked to imported gas, which is estimated to cost around 70% more than locally produced gas.
Gas utilities — including Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGP) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) — have been directed to provide imported gas connections to 50% of applicants within a year. Applicants opting for an urgent fee will receive a connection within three months.
The policy also states that households with inactive connections for over a year will be transitioned to the imported gas supply. A total of nine conditions have been outlined to guide the implementation of the scheme, which officials say is aimed at reducing strain on Pakistan’s depleting domestic reserves.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the framework strikes a balance between meeting consumer demand and managing energy security. He confirmed that the resumption of connections reflects the government’s commitment to addressing long-pending applications while encouraging more sustainable use of domestic gas resources.
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