LAHORE: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distributors Association (LPGDA) chairman Irfan Khokhar has urged the government to take action against LPG mafia and cancel their licenses for creating an artificial shortage and black marketing.
Addressing a news conference here Friday, he alleged that LPG distributors were minting about Rs560 million through black-marketing just in seven day period. He underlined the need for holding audit and inquiry into the matter.
He said that artificial shortage of LPG in the country had been ended on the intervention of LPGDA. He said that no gas seller was allowed to sell the gas at higher rates as fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) prices.
He explained that LPG would be sold on the controlled price of Rs113 per kilogram and Rs1338.78 for a domestic cylinder of 11.8 kg.
He alleged that some dealers had raised the prices to create a fake shortage of gas, however, he clarified that there was no shortage of LPG in the country.
“Supply of LPG is smoothly going on without any hindrance”, he added. He said that Pakistan produced 80 percent LPG and only 20 percent gas was being imported.
Khokhar said that 23,000 MT LPG loaded in ships were about to reach the national ports within next 24 hours, besides 400 to 500 MT supply through Taftan border.
“With the cooperation of the government and the LPGDA the price of the LPG has been reduced by Rs50 per kilogram,” he added.
He said that LPG black-market mafia with the help of local producers illegally increased the price of LPG on which the government with the support of LPGDA took action to normalize the prices within 48 hours.
He thanked the petroleum minister on abolishing the regulatory duty and reduction of general sales tax (GST) on the import of the commodity to mitigate sufferings of the common man by providing them inexpensive fuel.
He assured the people that there would be no black-marketing anywhere in the country and the LPG would be available cheaper than the price announced by the OGRA.