MAKING FIRE WAS NEVER THAT DIFFICULT GASSED

After being hit badly by the petrol bomb, the masses have now been bombarded with an increase in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and PARCO have increased LPG rate by Rs 10 per kilogramme, Rs 120 per domestic cylinder and Rs 480 per commercial cylinder.
The notified rates of LPG are effective from September 3. As per the afresh price list issued by the gas producers, OGDCL produced gas price per metric tonne would be Rs 104,535 with an increase of Rs 8,000 to 10,000, while PARCO’s new price per metric tonne would be Rs 104,229.
The gas producers attribute the increase in domestic LPG prices with the increase in gas prices in the international market. LPG price in the international market has been escalated to $865 from $829 per metric tonne; an increase of $36 per metric tonne.
It is pertinent to mention here that winter season has yet to start while the gas mafia has already kick started its money minting game that will make LPG unaffordable for the consumers especially in hilly areas.
After this increase in gas price, the LPG rate per kg would reach to Rs 120 and a domestic cylinder will be available at Rs 1,390 in Karachi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukhar and Hyderabad. The gas price would be Rs 125 per kg in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Okara, Attock, Mir Pur, Jhelum, Bahawalpr, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan, while domestic cylinder will be available in the mention cities at Rs 1,450. However, new LPG rate per kg in Gilgit, Baltistan, FATA, Muzafarabad, Bagh, Naran, Kaghan, Murree and Nathia Gali would be Rs 140 per kg and a domestic cylinder will be available at Rs 1,630.
LPG Distributors Association Pakistan (LPGDAP) Chairman Irfan Khokar while recording his reaction on the fresh increase in gas price said the biggest gas producer refinery JJVLL has suspended its production for some time due to certain reasons owing to which the LPG production would have reduced. He said that as per past practices, the government producers of LPG would again raise the price by taking undue advantage of the situation.
Khokhar said that poor consumers have already been compelled to purchase gas at high rates. He said that government should take the issue seriously and devise a workable strategy to control the LPG prices. He said if government would not take appropriate action against the gas mafia then gas price may escalate further in the coming days with the advent of winter season.
Meanwhile, talking to Pakistan Today, a resident of Jubillee Town Safdar Baluch said that he was a government employee and it has already been very difficult to buy costly LPG cylinders on existing price. Now after the fresh increase he would have to spent almost half of his salary on domestic fueling, he added. He asked the government to take notice of LPG price hike and take prompt action against the gas mafia which was in cahoots with the gas producers.