KARACHI: The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) went up by Rs 2 to 95 per kilogram in Karachi and interior of Sindh as its producers raised their price by Rs 8,000 per ton effective July 4, 2011.
This was stated by the acting chairman of All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association Mohammad Ali Haider here Monday.
He said price of 11.8 kg cylinder has been raised by Rs 20 to Rs 1,100 to 1,110 while 45.4 kg cylinder moved up by Rs 77 to Rs 4232 in Sindh and Karachi.
Recording his protest on price hike, he said that producers should also consider the interest of people and the country instead of profiteering.
He was of the view that LPG producers should not link their prices to Saudi Armco Contract Price. This is unjustified as the local cost of producing LPG is Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per ton, he added.
Haider said retail price of LPG in Lahore will be Rs 104-105 per kg while 11.8 kilo cylinder would be selling at Rs 1,225 and 45.4 cylinders at Rs 4,713.
In Peshawar, LPG will surge to Rs 106-107 per kilo, 11.8 kg cylinder to Rs 1,250-1,260 and 45.4 kg cylinder at Rs 4,848.
Haider said that in Swat, Gilgit, Chitral, FATA and AJK, LPG will be sold at Rs 108 per kg and 11.8 kg cylinder at Rs 1,275 while 45.4 kg cylinder is sold at Rs 4,903.
He urged the government to maintain its writ to enforce just prices in the country. He said producers have slashed their production by 550 ton per day for profiteering. The government and OGRA must force LPG producers to increase their production and reduce prices which are high due to artificial shortage, he noted.
He pointed out that non-tax payers were taking advantage of this uncertain supply chain.
Haider pointed out that some letters of credit (L/Cs) have been opened for the import 8,000 tons of LPG. Two vessels carrying 5000 tons of LPG will be arriving Karachi this month, he added.
He pointed out that LPG sale has declined to 60 percent due to artificial price rise by the existing cartel which is not under tax net. This is alarming for LPG industry and its stakeholders which are tax payers, he observed.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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