Consumers across Pakistan are facing soaring liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices amid supply disruptions as rates in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reached Rs750 per kilogram and cylinder prices exceeding Rs10,000. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has yet to launch a planned crackdown on companies and sellers accused of profiteering, as authorities fear that enforcement action could trigger strikes, disrupt supplies and aggravate the country's existing energy crisis. The crisis has intensified over the past five to six days following a decline in LPG supplies, which officials have linked to the closure of the Taftan border amid tensions between Iran and the United States. Around 70 per cent of Pakistan's LPG requirements are met through imports, while the remaining 30 per cent is produced domestically, a senior OGRA official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. Although OGRA has fixed the official LPG price for the current month at Rs279.34 per kilogram, market rates in several areas have climbed to between Rs550 and Rs600 per kilogram. In Peshawar, LPG is selling for around Rs600 per kilogram, while prices in the northern areas have reached Rs750. Cylinder prices have also exceeded Rs10,000, placing an additional burden on consumers. The absence of effective enforcement has left consumers exposed to the world's highest LPG prices as sellers are allegedly charged arbitrary rates. The official warned that the situation could deteriorate further if enforcement measures triggered supply disruptions, with prices potentially exceeding Rs700 per kilogram in affected markets. Rates in the northern areas of K-P have already reportedly reached Rs750 per kilogram. When contacted for comment, an OGRA spokesperson said work was under way to address the issue. The spokesperson acknowledged that the closure of the Taftan border had created some difficulties but expressed confidence that the situation would be brought under control soon. The price surge has hit lower-income households particularly hard, especially in K-P, where consumers are also facing shortages of natural gas. Residents said the lack of natural gas supplies, coupled with the rising cost of LPG, had made it increasingly difficult to meet basic household fuel needs. In rural areas and localities on the outskirts of Peshawar, residents have begun turning to firewood for cooking and other domestic needs as both LPG and natural gas become increasingly difficult to obtain. The shift has driven up firewood prices as well, adding to the financial pressure on households already struggling with higher fuel costs. The price of firewood has increased by Rs200 to Rs300 per maund. Previously available at Rs1,400 to Rs1,600 per maund, it is now selling for between Rs1,600 and Rs1,800 per maund.