ISLAMABAD: The government Monday was urged to take measures for provision of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at affordable price to consumers.
The demand was raised by LPG Distributors Association secretary Irsalan Khokar. He said, “An increase in LPG price and that is too illegal, is like a thunderbolt for the consumers who hardly meet basic expenses of their households, so government should work out remedial measures to arrest the unbridled trend in LPG prices which are on rising trajectory these days.”
He said the association had prepared a summary spelling out approach to offset shocks in LPG market and maintain the commodity’s price at affordable range for the consumers throughout the year.
He said several rounds of the meetings were held with concerned officials and the next one in series would take place with Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi soon to discuss the guidelines and proposals to thrash out strategy for implementation.
Since the government feared bad impression in case prices touched last year’s level of Rs 270 per kg, proactive efforts were being witnessed on the part of official quarters.
He said the current local production stood at 1600 tons per day and its demand had soared to 3000 tons per day, necessitating for the government to put matters of LPG market in order and extend relief to consumers.
He said the demand was likely to further exceed if domestic sector was not supplied with smooth gas supply in peak winter season. He was of the view hefty duties and taxes on LPG import was an impediment to the government’s efforts to ensure its stocks at adequate level, thus policymakers should revive matters on this front as well.
He said the OGRA had fallen short of playing its role and the LPG policy binding marketing companies to import certain percent of quota was flouted as most of the companies did not venture into import business, leading to widening supply and demand gap of LPG in the country.
Lately, the marketing companies increased price of Liquified Petroleum Gas(LPG) by Rs 8 per kg with domestic cylinder by Rs 100 and commercial cylinder by Rs 400 at a time when its demand has started to swell and clod continues to intensify.
