VEHARI, Sept 18: Abrupt increase in the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas has become a cause of concern for its consumers. The district government had recently fixed the price of a 12-kilogram gas cylinders at Rs340. However, during the last week, local dealers and stockists have increased prices by Rs140 to Rs160 for each cylinder.

During a visit to various areas, this correspondent learnt that Caltax gas and Southern gas are being sold at Rs480 per cylinder; Irad gas at Rs485; and Fon gas, Pak gas and Ravi gas Rs490.

The district government has failed to keep prices stabilized despite complaints by citizens to the DCO and the district Nazim. Muhammad Sufyan, a resident of People's Colony, criticized the arbitrary increase in the rates of the LPG saying he could not afford to use it.

A local gas dealer, when contacted, ascribed increase in the rates of gas to imposition of various types of taxes on gas products by the government.

According to another dealer, the sale of cylinders has been drastically reduced after the increase in prices.

Meanwhile, consumers all over the district have demanded that the authorities concerned withdraw the recent increase in prices of gas cylinders.