Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged to a record high, adding fresh misery to households already struggling with scarce gas supply and soaring inflation.

The per-kilogram price of LPG has jumped from Rs380 to Rs540, a Rs160 increase that amounts to a 42% hike, with no authority stepping forward to explain or own the decision.

The timing compounds the pain. Coming just ahead of the federal budget, the increase lands as inflation continues to erode household purchasing power, and as natural gas supply to residential consumers remains unreliable across major cities.

LPG had long been seen as a cheaper energy alternative for cooking and heating, particularly for low-income households cut off from the gas grid. That perception is now under strain.

Rickshaw drivers, who rely heavily on LPG to keep fares competitive, say the hike may prove the final blow to already threadbare margins.

Many had already absorbed repeated blows from rising petroleum product prices. With LPG costs now climbing steeply, they say earning two square meals a day has become a genuine struggle.

The downstream effect is expected to hit commuters as well. As rickshaw operators look to offset rising fuel costs, fare increases appear inevitable, pushing the burden further down the chain onto ordinary citizens.