The LPG Association of Pakistan Wednesday welcomed the Lahore High Court verdict allowing use of LPG as fuel in the vehicles and termed it a far-reaching decision for economic growth of the country.
In a statement issued here, LPG Association of Pakistan chairman Farooq Iftikhar said that the petition against use of LPG as fuel in the vehicles was a surprising act of the government as there was a dire need to promote alternate fuels like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Iftikhar said that concerned government circles must keep it in mind that dependence on conventional fuels only was one of the biggest causes of ongoing energy crisis.
“In a recent past the country has experienced severe energy crisis, therefore, the government should strengthen LPG sector to avoid such a situation in future,” the LPG Association chairman said.
He said the LPG Association of Pakistan had always advocated the use of environment-friendly LPG in automobile sector as it would not only help government get rid of the fuel crisis but would also curtail the oil import bill thus reducing the ever widening trade deficit.
He said the association wanted to work hand in hand with the government to undo the fuel crisis. He said the association was already supplementing government’s endeavors by controlling price of LPG as committed by them in a meeting with Federal Minister of Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on December 24, 2014.
He said despite massive demand, the LPG Association had kept the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) down in the larger interests of the consumers. Though government pricing structure is highly flawed and the high prices of the locally produced LPG was the main cause of import of cheap and low grade of LPG in excess of the gap between demand and supply, he added.
The chairman made it clear that recent past hike in LPG prices was not because of marketing companies but was due to the growing gap between demand and supply. He, however, said the situation was well controlled by the Association. “Today, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is being sold on advertised prices to give relief to the petrol crisis-hit masses.” He urged the government to bring down the LPG producer’s price through a policy framework in line with LPG policy.
