LAHORE, Oct 5: Liquefied petroleum gas marketing companies and distributors have demanded review of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) decision to link gas prices to international market and bringing down the prices to Rs17,000 per ton.

Voicing the demand at a joint press conference at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, LPG Marketing Companies Chairman Fasihuddin Ahmad, Nur Gas Chief Executive Jabbar Memon, Grace Gas Director Khalid Naeem, Star Gas Director Ahmad Latif and LPG Distributors Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar said more than 94 per cent LPG was being produced in the country for Rs5 per kg, but its price had been raised over 100 per cent — from Rs18,647.75 per ton to Rs40,295.15 per ton — during the past one year and a half due to ECC’s decision to link it with international market. The number of LPG marketing companies had increased from 17 to 63 owing to an enormous profit.

They said there was a 20 per cent decrease in LPG consumption during the past one year owing to increase in prices. Domestic consumers had given up its use because the average bill of a house had increased from Rs400 to Rs2,000 per month. The LPG prices would come down if the government reviewed the ECC decision to link LPG prices with the international market, but some 55 of 63 marketing companies would be wound up due to reduction in undue profit.—Reporter