LPG prices increased by Rs 5 per kg

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LPG prices increased by Rs 5 per kg

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19 August,2010 09:30 pm

The Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketing companies once again increased prices by Rs 5 per kg on Thursday with Lahore and Karachi exempted. As a result of what the distributors association described an unjustified increase just in 10 days, prices of domestic cylinder was increased by Rs 60 and commercial cylinder by Rs 240. During the two weeks, the LPG prices witnessed hike three times-Rs 15 per kg on August 11, Rs 10 on August 13 and this time, on August 19 the prices were raised by Rs 5 per kg. The raise hit mainly those areas which have already been grappling with aftermaths of the devastating floods and people are just managing to eke out. The LPG distributors have warned with strike on August 31 if the raise was not withdrawn. Chairman LPG distributors association Muhammad Irfan Khokhar said now prices of LPG are Rs 125 per kg in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Bhawalpur,Rahim Yar Khan, Rajinpur, DG khan, Sargodha and Mianwali. It would be sold at Rs 140 per kg in Peshawar, Murree and Muzaffarabad and Rs 155 per kg in Swat, Gilgit and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The associations chairman said the consecutive raises in LPG prices have badly affected the sector, forcing many retailers to wind up their business. The unabated upward trend in LPG prices has affected the poor segment of the society manifold. Eighty per cent sale points are closed due to artificial shortage created by unscrupulous marketing companies that soar prices brazenly every other day, Mr Irfan Kokhar observed. He said there was high time the Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (OGRA) came into action but unfortunately, he added, the concerned authority seemed to be still unmoved providing an opportunity to anti-market forces to make a fast buck by injecting unjustified raise at the cost of the poor. He said it was binding on the OGRA under policy 2006 to regularly monitor LPG prices and intervene in exceptional circumstances if the consumer prices are considered not reasonable. He added in such situation when flood had wrecked havoc, rendering several families homeless and leading people to starvation, the raise was totally uncalled for.