Published on, Sept. 18 -- September 18, 2025 7:28 PM

The federal government has permanently banned new residential gas connections using local natural gas and canceled around three million pending applications to address the worsening domestic gas shortage. The Petroleum Division has issued a nine-point policy framework, recently approved by the Federal Cabinet, directing Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to implement these changes. This decision aims to manage limited local gas reserves more effectively while ensuring future supply stability through imported liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Under the new framework, local natural gas will no longer be allocated for new household connections, mark...