ISLAMABAD : Pakistan is looking to Oman and Saudi Arabia for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as it seeks to ease shortages and bring down prices ahead of winter, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told reporters on Tuesday.

Pakistan closed two key crossings with Iran last month, citing security concerns and efforts to curb smuggling in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The closures cut into a major source of LPG supplies as the U.S.-Iran war disrupted regional energy flows and drove up fuel costs.

Malik said a Pakistani team had already visited Oman and was preparing for a second trip. He said an agreement with Oman had been signed electronically, though he did not specify whether it covered LPG.

Pakistan signed a sale and purchase agreement with Oman’s OQ Trading Limited last month to import petroleum products as part of an effort to diversify its supplies. The government’s Economic Coordination Committee approved the deal in August.

Pakistan consumes about 2.4 million tonnes of LPG a year, or 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes a day, and produces between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes a day domestically. Imports across the western border previously met roughly half of demand or more, Malik said. Other shipments arrived by sea through two LPG terminals at Port Qasim in Karachi.

The government has directed Pakistan State Oil, SSGC LPG Limited and Pakistan LNG Limited to arrange bulk imports through government-to-government and commercial deals. Malik said the companies had made progress but gave no figures for the volumes under discussion or a timeline for deliveries.

Islamabad will also encourage private companies to compete with state-owned importers for supplies. Malik said the government aimed to bring LPG prices down to between 300 and 400 Pakistani rupees per kilogram through higher imports and greater competition. He warned traders against colluding or manipulating supplies and prices.

Malik said the government was also prepared to buy higher-cost liquefied natural gas (LNG) to maintain supplies to the piped gas network in December and January, when winter demand is expected to peak.

Pakistan has increased its reliance on more expensive spot-market LNG purchases after its long-term Qatari supplier declared force majeure amid the conflict.

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