LAHORE, June 16: A number of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers, grocers and owners of mini petrol outlets in the streets of the Punjab capital did a roaring business on Saturday when the slashed prices of POL products took effect.

Motorcyclists had to wait in queues for hours at few filling stations offering just one litre of petrol to each two-wheeler at the price fixed by the government.

Most grocers and some LPG dealers were seen selling petrol in bottles of 120 millilitres and half-litre capacity, between Rs50 and Rs60 besides between Rs80 and Rs90, respectively, at Aziz Road of Misri Shah, Main Bazaar of Ghoray Shah and Wassanpura, Farooq Gunj, Badami Bagh, Datanagar, Garhi Shahu, Karim Park, Islampura, Sanda, Shama Road, Ichhra, Rasool Park, New Mozang and parts of Township and Green Town.Price of loose petrol ranged between Rs120 and Rs150 per litre at the mini outlets and there were complaints regarding adulteration as a number of motorcyclists were seen contacting mechanics with complaints of ‘short spark plug’.

“Getting petrol from an LPG dealer or mini outlet is much costlier but it saves time and inconvenience,” said Yaqoob, who benefited from such an outlet to travel from Township to the railway station to receive a guest.

He said he failed to understand from where these outlets were getting petrol. “I visited at least three filling stations and each complained about short supplies. There were at least three full drums in LPG dealer’s shop from where I purchased petrol,” he said.

Owner of a filling station on Ferozpur Road had the courage to speak the truth. “I had some quantity of petrol which I sold to retailers at a reasonable price. How can I sell a thing at Rs11 or Rs12 less than the purchasing price?” he argued.