Pakistan faces $1.3 billion LNG import bill ahead ...

Summary

• Pakistan is expected to spend around $1.29 billion on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports between November 2026 and February 2027 as rising demand and disruptions to supplies from Qatar push the country towards expensive spot-market purchases.
• The government plans to import 22 LNG cargoes during the four-month period to meet the expected increase in gas consumption during winter.
• In comparison, LNG imports under long-term arrangements are expected to cost approximately $429.83 million.

AI Generated Summary

Pakistan is expected to spend around $1.29 billion on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports between November 2026 and February 2027 as rising demand and disruptions to supplies from Qatar push the country towards expensive spot-market purchases.

The government plans to import 22 LNG cargoes during the four-month period to meet the expected increase in gas consumption during winter. Of these, 12 cargoes are expected to arrive under long-term agreements, while the remaining 10 will be purchased from the international spot market at significantly higher prices.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted LNG supplies from Qatar, increasing uncertainty over Pakistan’s ability to meet seasonal demand through existing contracts. As a result, the country is preparing to rely more heavily on spot purchases, which expose it to fluctuations in international energy prices.