LPG price surge forces Pakistan rickshaw drivers to cut meal

Drivers said the increase had raised their daily operating costs while fares had not risen enough to compensate. KARACHI: A sharp rise in liquefied petroleum gas prices is squeezing rickshaw drivers and other low-income consumers across Pakistan, with some drivers saying higher fuel costs are forcing them to cut spending on food and other essentials. LPG, widely used by rickshaws and households without access to piped gas, has become significantly more expensive amid supply disruptions and volatility in regional energy markets. Drivers said the increase had raised their daily operating costs while fares had not risen enough to compensate. For many, the result has been a direct reduction in take-home income. Some rickshaw operators said they were working longer hours to earn the same amount they previously made, while others were cutting household expenses to manage higher fuel bills. LPG is often described as a fuel of the poor because it is heavily used by lower-income households and transport workers who have limited alternatives. The impact is particularly severe for rickshaw drivers because fuel costs account for a large share of their daily expenses. Recent disruptions to supplies through the Pakistan-Iran border had added pressure to the market, although cross-border LPG movement has since resumed. Industry representatives expect improved supplies to help ease prices, but consumers say the relief has yet to fully reach the retail market. Higher LPG costs have also affected households that depend on cylinders for cooking, particularly in areas without natural gas connections. The price increase comes as lower-income families continue to face pressure from food, transport and utility costs, leaving little room to absorb another rise in essential expenditure.