Pakistan is facing the risk of an energy crisis as disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz have started to affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
Sources say that at least 22 LNG cargoes expected to arrive by May have been stopped, creating serious concerns about possible gas shortages across the country.
The halt in LNG shipments is likely to put heavy pressure on the energy sector. Officials have warned that gas prices may rise as supply tightens. Industry sources believe the drop in imported LNG could widen the financial gap in the gas sector, pushing authorities to consider major tariff increases to meet revenue goals.
According to sources, the total revenue target for gas companies this year is more than Rs852 billion. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has been given a target of Rs515 billion, while Sui Southern Gas Company is expected to generate Rs347 billion. More than 40 percent of this income comes from sectors such as fertilizer, power generation, captive power plants, and the CNG industry.
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Experts have cautioned that if the current cross-subsidy system in gas tariffs is removed, household consumers may see a steep increase in gas bills. The situation has also been made worse by higher gas supplies being directed to the power sector, which has already resulted in load-shedding for domestic users.
With LNG imports delayed and demand continuing to grow, the country’s energy outlook remains uncertain. There are growing fears that people may face higher utility costs along with longer periods of supply interruptions in the months ahead.