Price hike: Price of firewood goes through the roof

The unavailability of natural gas and rise in LPG tariffs has led to a significant increase in the price of firewood.

ISLAMABAD: The unavailability of natural gas and the rise in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tariffs has led to a significant increase in the price of firewood, which now stands at Rs900 per 40 kgs in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. With no assurance of smooth supply of natural gas and increases in the price of LPG, people have started using firewood to cook and keep warm, with dealers taking full advantage of the situation. Talking to APP, Mukhtar Ahmed a resident complained that “the abrupt rise in LPG and firewood prices has hit the residents hard. We depend on these things for cooking and heating in the winter.” He accused retailers of profiteering. However, firewood dealer Umair Ali said the jump in price was because of the transportation cost, which is tied to the fuel tariff.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2013.