Summary
- Millions of households depend on gas for cooking and heating, especially during winter.
- This may help protect electricity generation and economic activity, but it could also create difficulties for consumers if gas supplies remain limited.
- We need a winter gas strategy that protects households without badly hurting industry and power generation.
October 7, 2026
Gas shortage is becoming a serious winter problem, and the government must prepare before the cold weather puts more pressure on the energy system. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rightly directed authorities to prepare a comprehensive gas load management plan and take advance steps to ensure supplies. But planning alone will not be enough. The government must make sure that the plan is practical, transparent and properly implemented.
The decision to give priority to domestic consumers for locally produced gas is understandable. Millions of households depend on gas for cooking and heating, especially during winter. At the same time, imported RLNG will mainly be supplied to power plants and industries. This may help protect electricity generation and economic activity, but it could also create difficulties for consumers if gas supplies remain limited.
The proposed shift towards electric appliances for water and space heating is a sensible long-term option. However, asking people to move from gas to electricity will not work unless electricity is affordable and reliably available. The government should therefore consider easy bank financing for electric appliances and ensure that consumers are not forced to bear the entire cost of this transition.
The biggest concern is the uncertainty over LNG imports. Gas companies had asked for at least 22 LNG cargoes for December to February, but the government is currently trying to arrange only around 10 to 12 cargoes. Actual imports could be even lower. This gap could lead to serious pressure on the gas system during the coldest months.
International tensions and disruptions in major shipping routes have made LNG more expensive and difficult to secure. Pakistan cannot control global energy markets, but it can improve its planning and reduce its dependence on emergency imports.
The government should also communicate honestly with the public. A timely awareness campaign can help households understand supply limitations and plan accordingly.
We need a winter gas strategy that protects households without badly hurting industry and power generation. Most importantly, the country must move beyond temporary crisis management and invest in alternative energy, efficiency and better long-term planning. Another winter of shortages should not come as a surprise.
