LPG price jacked up by Rs5 per kg without OGRA notification

Association's chairman Irfan Khokhar describes price rise as illegal, says govt should take notice.

ISLAMABAD: The Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketing companies on Wednesday increased price by Rs5 per kg with immediate effect. 

The association's chairman Irfan Khokhar described the price increase as illegal and said that the prices were jacked up without any notification of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

He said the price of domestic cylinders went up by Rs60 and commercial cylinder by Rs240.

In major cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Karachi, one kilogram of the commodity will be sold at Rs 115 and it will be priced at Rs 135 in hilly areas.

A commercial cylinder will be for Rs5320 and the price of a domestic cylinder will be Rs 1330 in those areas.

Khokhar called upon the government to take notice of frequent raises in prices of the commodity.

He said that the OGRA should play its role by taking action against the unethical forces in the LPG sector, that were extracting money through unjustified raises.

"The LPG is mainly used as burning fuel by the poor people of the remote areas and rising trend in its price would put extra burden on them," he observed.

He dispelled the impression that there was a shortage of LPGs, adding that there was adequate stock available to fulfill requirements.

Khokhar said that another production plant at Makori Oil field at Khohat with 450 metric tonne capacity will be inaugurated soon.

He stated that this plant was the third largest facility after Pak-Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) and Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL).

The LPG mafia is likely to further increase prices on the pretext of a shortage due to gas pipelines blast, he said, adding that the government should take notice of it.