VEHARI: Abrupt increase in the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas has become a cause of concern for the consumers in the district.

With the drop in mercury, local gas dealers and stockists have increased the 11kg cylinder price from Rs1,300 to Rs1,600-Rs1,700.

A visit to various areas of the district revealed that gas outlets, including Caltax Gas, Tez Gas, Soneri Gas, Walk Gas, Super Gas, Noor Gas and Shell Gas are charging Rs1,600 to Rs1,700 per domestic 11kg cylinder.

Various residents of the city, including Arfan, Abdul Aziz Bhutta, Asim Anjum, A D Sabir and Abdul Quyum, alleged that the LPG dealers had created an artificial shortage to earn undue profit. Retail outlets are charging Rs180 to Rs200 per kilo.

The residents of the district, like other areas of the province, have been forced to buy LPG on higher rates due to low gas pressure in the city since the advent of winter.

The gas shortage has forced many domestic consumers to switch over to firewood and kerosene oil. But, the rise in the demand, has also pushed the firewood rates up to Rs600 to Rs700 per 40 kilogram, adding to the financial burden of the consumers, especially the poor.

The situation has also resulted in an increase in prices of second-hand gas cylinders for being cheaper as compared to the new ones. These used substandard cylinders are being sold in the district without any check, putting the lives of users, especially the women in their kitchens at risk.

Meanwhile, due to the high demand, the gas marketing companies have also increased the security amount of the cylinders.

The security amount for an 11kg new cylinder that used to be around Rs2,500 last season has been hiked to Rs3,500-Rs4,000, whereas the locally manufactured cylinder costs around Rs1,500-Rs2,000.

The market is flooded with these locally-made cylinders which are available in 11kg, 15kg, and 45kg capacity.

According to a local gas dealer, Israr Shah, most of these locally-made cylinders were of poor quality and often resulted in accidents, claiming lives in many cases. He said that despite a ban slapped by the Punjab government on the sale of these cylinder.

He said despite filing repeated complaints regarding dozens of units manufacturing low-quality cylinders in Punjab, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had taken no action.

Another dealer, M Shahid, also blamed Ogra for high LPG prices.

The district administration has also failed to keep a check on LPG prices despite complaints lodged by citizens.

Deputy Commissioner Arfan Ali Kathia, admitting overcharging by gas dealers, said a crackdown would soon be launched against the profiteers.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2018