HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry President Mohammad Saleem Memon has strongly condemned overcharging of LPG and demanded action against profiteers.

In his statement issued here on Monday, he drew the attention of the authorities concerned towards the issue, saying that LPG was being sold for Rs450 to Rs500 per kg against the official rate of Rs309 per kg fixed by the Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra).

He called for an immediate action to curb the black-marketing.

“It’s sheer exploitation of consumers,” remarked Mr Memon, and observed the continued illegal practice was an evidence of failure of the price control system. He regretted that the authorities concerned were not fulfilling their responsibility in providing due relief to people.

He said that people were already facing a shortage and loadshedding of natural gas, adding that low pressure and strict gas schedule were badly affecting small traders and businessmen, including thousands of tandoors, tea houses, hotels and restaurants, besides domestic consumers.

In such circumstances, he said, “artificial” shortage and profiteering have increased problems of the public and business community manifold.

He wondered that why the district administrations and other institutions were not implementing the official rates and not acting upon widespread complaints in this regard. “No effective action is taken against this black-marketing,” he deplored, and demanded an investigation into the supply, sale and hoarding of LPG. He called for an indiscri­minate action against all elements involved in profiteering and artificial shortage of LPG.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026