Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) marketing companies imported 5,972 metric tonnes of LPG this month to meet the countrys requirements, the LPG Association of Pakistan (LPGAP) said here on Tuesday. "This product has been brought in under the existing LPG policy at the sole initiative of private sector companies, which proves that the LPG marketing companies are alive to the market and the concerns of consumers," said LPGAP spokesman Fasih Ahmed.
"The governments policy of deregulation and encouraging competition is working successfully," he said. "Two imported LPG cargoes of 2,600 metric tonnes and 3,372 metric tonnes each have arrived in Pakistan this month, and this additional availability will help maintain the consumer prices at reasonable levels," said Ahmed.
The imports have been made by two private sector LPG marketing companies, he added. Pakistan imported 8,240 metric tonnes LPG in January; 8,397 metric tonnes in February; and 128 metric tonnes in March. With the latest arrival of 5,972 metric tonnes, the total LPG import figure for the current year stands at 22,737 metric tonnes. The highest LPG import figure for a single year stands at 47,938 metric tonnes during 2007.