LPG Distributors Association of Pakistan on Saturday demanded zero-rated import of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) for provision of cheap, protection of industry and end of the monopoly of producers in the country.
Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club, Mohammad Irfan Khokhar, chairman of the association, said that the price of LPG in world market was on decline and has recently witnessed a cut of $150 per metric ton. The price, which was $580 per metric ton has fall to $430 per metric ton.
"The abolition of duty on import would definitely bring the price of domestic LPG cylinder down in Karachi and would not only overcome the prevailing shortage of the commodity in the market but would also cut the price," he said he hoped.
He said that the price of LPG was manifold lower in India where the house use cylinder costs only Rs 236, against Rs 650-700 in Pakistan. The per day production of LPG in India is 7000 metric tons and sale is 40,000 metric ton. The domestic consumers have been granted 70 percent subsidy.
With the grace of Allah Almighty, he said, "our country is self-sufficient in the commodity and per day production is 1648 metric tons with the same daily sale." However, he said that per day production of LPG would rise to 2000 metric tons shortly.
Khokhar said that due to persistent upward trend in the price of LPG cylinders, the commodity was going out of the reach of the common man and the government should grant subsidy to domestic consumers if it is really interested in giving relief to the poor of the country.
The chairman of the association said that due to unprecedented increase in the price of LPG cylinder during last 7 months, the use of the commodity decreased 30 percent, and hundreds of distributing and sale points had been closed down in different parts of the country.
"It is an alarming situation and if it remains the same then the day is not far away when the people would abandon the use of LPG in the country," he said with concern.
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