'Is this a restaurant or WAPDA?' Gaia Lahore roasted for adding fuel, LPG charges to dinner bills

Just when you thought eating out couldn't get any more expensive, a restaurant in Lahore has managed to find a whole new way to shock its customers.

Younas Nadeem, a local resident, took to the popular "Voice of Customer" group to share a baffling discovery from his recent trip to GAIA in DHA Phase 5. It wasn't the quality of the food that caught his eye—it was the fact that the restaurant is now charging customers for the fuel and gas used to cook it.

Nadeem shared a photo of his bill which showed "Fuel and LPG charges" added as a separate line item alongside the food. While global fuel prices have certainly spiked due to international conflict, adding a direct surcharge to a customer's check is being called completely unprecedented by citizens.

"Who are they? WAPDA?"

The internet reaction was swift and predictably salty. People were quick to point out that when you pay premium prices—like Rs1,700 for a single burger—the cost of overheads like electricity and gas is supposed to be adjusted in to the menu price.

"Fuel and LPG charges? Who are they? WAPDA?" one user asked, referring to the national power authority.

Beyond the annoyance of the extra fee, there are growing concerns that by splitting the bill into "food" and "fuel differentials," more restaurants might start doing this.

Whether it's a desperate attempt to stay afloat or a bold new way to pass the buck to the consumer, the verdict from Lahore is clear: if we’re paying for the gas, we might as well just cook at home. For now, the only thing "spicy" about this dinner was the bill at the end.