After petroleum dealers, LPG sellers also announce strike

LPG dealers association announce shutter down strike across the country from August 5

KARACHI:

A day after petroleum dealers called for a strike, sellers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on Friday announced a strike against the sale of the commodity at fixed government prices.

Chairman LPG Industries Association Karachi Irfan Khokhar said that there will be a shutter down strike across the country from August 5.

He added that LPG is not being sold anywhere in the country at the fixed official price, adding that due to black marketeering, the gas is being sold at higher prices.

Khokhar also added that the price per kg is Rs178, but LPG is being sold at Rs220 to Rs350 per kg, while the local gas company is selling LPG at a price of Rs100,000, which is more than the fixed price per ton.

The chairman added that the annual consumption of LPG is 1.8 million tons, 40% of which is met by local production.

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The announcement comes just a day after petroleum dealers in Pakistan issued a warning to close down filling stations across the country indefinitely, starting from July 22 (tomorrow) morning.

The decision came after the outgoing government failed to honour its commitment to increasing profit margins of the dealers, leaving them dissatisfied with the current situation.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Samiullah Khan expressed their frustration over the government’s inability to raise their profit margin to 5% on the sale of two major petroleum products.

Currently fixed at Rs6 per litre (2.4%), the 5% margin would amount to over Rs12 per litre given the prevailing petrol and diesel prices of Rs253/litre and Rs253.50/litre, respectively.