Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) marketing companies have once again increased the price of LPG by rupee one to Rs 51 per kilogram in Karachi and Rs 52 in Punjab. LPG Distributors Association Chairman Abdul Hadi Khan said on Saturday the retail price of 11.8 cylinder was up by Rs 10 to Rs 540 in Sindh, while it was Rs 560 in Punjab and Rs 585 in NWFP.
He alleged that the LPG marketing companies had been increasing their prices without any notices and without any reason. Hadi Khan expressed disappointment over the government''s silence towards arbitrary and frequent increase in the LPG prices by the marketing companies.
He alleged that producers had reduced LPG production by 90 to 100 metric tonnes to 1,500 tonnes per day to create a shortage in the country, thus raising prices of poor man''s fuel. The total demand for the LPG is 2,000 tonnes per day in Pakistan, he said, and pointed out that LPG prices had been increased by rupees five in last 10 days.
He further alleged that the producers were selling LPG at Rs 40,703 to 45,000 per metric tonne whereas its actual production cost ranged between Rs 8,000 and Rs 9,000 per metric tonne. He urged the government to ensure that the producers do bring down the LPG prices at Rs 25,000 per metric tonne.