The price of liquefied petroleum gas has gone up by another Rs10 per kilogram within 24 hours.
It happened first time in recent years that LPG was being sold in summer season at rate of Rs220 per kg in Lahore. The LPG distribution companies on Monday increased the price of fuel from Rs200 per kg to Rs210 per kg while, on Tuesday morning, it was jacked up by another Rs10. Thousands of rickshaw owners and households use the fuel for their needs in the provincial metropolis. The gas is widely used for small commercial businesses all over the country. Livelihood of millions of people attach to directly or indirectly with the sale and purchase of basic fuel.
The LPG Distributer Association termed the increase artificial and demanded the government take notice. “The LPG producers are increasing prices in backdrop of super tax. It is all artificial,” said Irfan Khokhar, the chairman of the LPG Distributor Association. He said the prices of the LPG were going down in international market as against the domestic trend.
With the latest increase, the price of domestic cylinder has gone up at Rs2581, and commercial cylinder would be sold at Rs9988. The per kg price of LPG in Gilgit Biltastan has touched Rs270. Earlier in the day, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail assured the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) of full support in resolving their issues and providing maximum support to them.
APCNGA delegation was led by its group leader Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha here, according to press statement issued by the finance ministry. Among others, the meeting was attended by the chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and senior officers from finance division, the statement added.
The delegation apprised the finance minister about issues being faced by CNG sector in Pakistan, especially related to taxes. The proposal for use of CNG as fuel for motor vehicles to reduce import bill and minimize carbon emission was also discussed in the meeting.
