Dawood Ahmed, News Desk:
Islamabad, June 12, 2025 — In a bold initiative to address the national energy deficit, the Government of Pakistan has announced an ambitious plan to roll out over 116,000 new natural gas connections during the fiscal year 2025-26. The plan aligns with national energy infrastructure development goals and aims to support economic growth, industrial productivity, and household energy access.
This development comes amid a growing natural gas supply crisis that continues to strain both domestic and industrial energy consumption across the country.
📊
Gas Connection Allocation by Sector (FY 2025-26)
According to official figures:
- 🏠 115,530 domestic gas connections for residential energy use
- 🏪 550 commercial gas connections for business operations
- 🏭 350 industrial gas connections to support manufacturing and production
The distribution will be handled by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC)—Pakistan’s two main energy utility companies responsible for gas transmission and distribution.
🗺️
Provincial Distribution Plan
The new natural gas connections will be divided across provinces as follows:
- Sindh and Balochistan: 85,740 new gas hookups
- Punjab, Islamabad & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 30,530 new installations
This regional allocation reflects ongoing investments in energy infrastructure, particularly in underdeveloped and high-demand areas.
📉
Previous Year vs. Current Fiscal Target
In FY 2024-25, the original target was 68,990 connections, later slashed to just 20,061 due to natural gas shortages and budget constraints. The 2025-26 target, however, represents a massive increase of over 478%, demonstrating the government’s renewed focus on energy policy reform and resource management.
⚡
Why This Matters: Energy Security & Economic Impact
Expanding natural gas access is crucial for:
- Reducing electricity load shedding
- Enhancing energy efficiency in homes and industries
- Attracting foreign investment in the energy and manufacturing sectors
- Boosting industrial output and GDP growth
Experts note that while this initiative is commendable, success will hinge on securing sufficient gas supply—whether through LNG imports, domestic exploration, or public-private partnerships in energy infrastructure.
