Islamabad – October 27: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the reopening of new gas connections for domestic consumers, ending a nearly four-year ban that had restricted household access to natural gas. The decision, hailed as a significant public relief measure, follows the federal cabinet’s approval last month to resume domestic gas supply and extend regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) connections across the country.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the resumption of RLNG supply in Islamabad, the prime minister said the move was aimed at addressing a “long-standing public demand” that had persisted since the ban was imposed in 2021. “In 2022, there was immense public pressure for new gas connections, but the government was facing challenges,” Shehbaz said, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan. “With this landmark decision, the public will now be able to access affordable and quality fuel.”
The premier said RLNG would now be supplied nationwide, benefiting thousands of pending applicants awaiting new household connections. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving energy availability and ensuring transparency in gas distribution.
His remarks come weeks after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced the cabinet’s decision to lift the moratorium. The ministers had said the move was intended to ease public hardship and respond to growing demand for domestic gas access.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates restoration of domestic connections of Regasified Liquified Natural Gas. pic.twitter.com/uhVvBmLhrA
— PMLN Punjab (@PMLNPunjabPk) October 26, 2025
During Sunday’s ceremony, a video message from Petroleum Minister Malik highlighted the government’s efforts to enhance efficiency in the gas sector. He noted that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had reduced its line losses to 4.93 per cent and posted a profit of Rs29 billion in the last fiscal year — a sign, he said, of improved management and operational reforms.
The reopening of new gas connections marks a major policy reversal, signaling the government’s focus on expanding energy access and supporting consumers amid rising fuel costs.
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