The authorities concerned have failed to check and stop the illegal business of LPG in Rawalpindi city as illegal Liquefiled Petroleum Gas (LPG) decanting is going unchecked and a large number of gas shops are not following safety measures. Several LPG decanting outlets are operating in the town in the absence of standard safety measures, putting the lives of citizens at risk.
A number of such gas shops in congested areas like Raja Bazaar, Committee chowk, Peoples Colony, Tench Bhatta, Dhoke Seydian, Peerwadhai and other areas are operating without getting a licence and adopting precautionary measures. According to the rules, LPG outlets have to follow various safety procedures but the rules are openly being violated in the city. LPG decanting from one cylinder to another using electric motors is prohibited but, the practice is continuing due to absence of strict monitoring by the authorities concerned.
A LPG sale point is only allowed to sell the gas in form of cylinders, but owners of LPG outlets often decant the gas illegally, making it a dangerous trade. This not only risks lives but also the property of the people. According to the rules a LGP sale point cannot be set up in the basement of a building, on or near a footpath, a hotel and at public place besides LPG shop should also have a fire-fighting system in place but all these rules are not being followed.
A LPG shop can be set up along a 20-foot-wide road to allow a fire brigade vehicle to reach the sale point in case of an emergency. A proper exhaust system should also be ensured at all LPG shops. Each gas outlet must install a board, mentioning the names of the shop, its proprietor and the price of LPG. The electrical wiring of an LPG shop or outlet should be according to the set procedures. Though, a number of campaigns were started in the past to check the illegal activity in the city but no satisfactory progress could be made to curb the dangerous trade. Still small LPG shops are illegally being operated in the town and its adjoining areas. They are not following safety measures, putting the lives of people at stake.
Several incidents of cylinder explosions had also been witnessed in the past in which several precious lives were lost.
`Ilm Ideas’ project to improve access to education: All is set to launch a new education project `Ilm Ideas’ on March 7 to help increase access to quality education for the children in Pakistan.
The programme being funded by UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID) will announce the first request for applications (RFA), providing details about eligibility and application requirements. The deadline for the first set of grant applications is March 31, 2012. The event will be hosted by the fund managers, Development Alternatives Inc Europe Ltd.
The 6.3 million Pounds programme is part of 650 million Pounds from UK aid for education sector in Pakistan.
The programme will award competitive grants from the years 2012 to 2015 to entrepreneurs and organizations through two new funds including `Education Voice and Accountability Fund’ (EVAF) and `Education Innovation Fund’(EIF).