The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Distributors Association of Pakistan has cautioned that the current LPG crisis may worsen as the daily shortfall of the gas has reached to 800 metric tonnes owing to chilly winter.
'The difference in prices of local and imported LPG is Rs 2000 per metric tonne and if the government refuses to allow distributors to import the gas, then the crisis will further aggravate,' chairman LPG Distributor Association of Pakistan Irfan Khokhar said.
He demanded the city district government Lahore (CDGL) to stop action against distributors, saying if CDGL halt 'unilateral' action against distributors then they would cooperate with it, otherwise a call for nation-wide strike would be given.
He said that at present the demand was 2,500 metric tonnes while production of the liquefied gas is 1,700 metric tonnes daily. Khokhar held LPG producers, marketing companies and the district government Lahore responsible for present crisis, adding that producers refused to supply LPG on the priced fixed by Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra).
He said that at present LPG was available in the market at RS 120 per kilogramme. "If the situation remain the same, then its price may hit Rs 150 per kilogramme and the LPG will be a rare commodity in the market," he noted. Khokar said that despite assurances given to distributors in a meeting with the district nazim, the district government has failed to provide LPG on the fixed rate Ogra.
'Instead of taking action against marketing companies the CGDL is blackmailing the distributors and police has registered more than 232 cases against,' he added.
Khokhar said if the district government stop unilateral action against distributors they would cooperate with the CGDL, otherwise they would be compelled to call for a nation-wide strike. He demanded the district government to ensure supply of LPG from marketing companies at the rate fixed by Orga.