LAHORE: The Punjab government has conveyed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and LPG marketing companies to introduce small cylinders to minimise loss of human life being caused by explosions of large ones particularly in public vehicles.

The message has been conveyed after a recent meeting held in the aftermath of an LPG cylinder blast in Khurianwala, Jaranwala (Faisalabad).

The meeting had decided to ask Ogra to ensure 20pc inventory for manufacturing of small cylinders (three, four and six kilogram), and to make sure it also call a monthly report from the manufacturers on a regular basis.

A meeting was urged between Lahore mayor, LPG Cylinder Manufacturers Association, LPG Distributors Association, LPG Marketing Companies, Awami Rickshaw Union chairman, and officials concerned to remove substandard cylinders from the open market and control illegal decanting.

Transport department was assigned the task of providing a comprehensive, suitable and workable solution to avoid cylinder blast incidents in public service vehicles.

Safety measures being put in place after Faisalabad’s tragic incident

Sources said the meeting decided to ask the district administrations to coordinate with other departments concerned for launching a crackdown on illegal decanters operating in streets and congested areas of cities. The list of such people was to be obtained from the explosive department and action was to be taken by the Special Branch, civil defence and deputy commissioners.

They said the Punjab government had already conveyed SOPs for installation of LPG kits in public service vehicles and procedure of filling of the gas in automobiles to Ogra, and the government was now sending them to all those concerned for compliance.

They said the government was now identifying petrol pumps and CNG stations where Skid Mounted Systems (safe system) could be installed as a pilot project in Lahore, and would send the information to the federal government and Ogra for assistance.

Efforts were being made to make the manufacturers affix a uniform logo or trademark on the standardised cylinders for singling out the substandard ones.

The officials concerned were also working on requesting the federal government to change laws and policy so as to effectively control explosion of cylinders in vehicles.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017