LANDI KOTAL, Dec 22: Local dealers have increased firewood and liquefied petroleum gas prices after a sharp decrease in temperature, according to local residents.

There are also complaints of profiteering by these dealers.

The people told Dawn on Saturday that the demand for firewood and LPG had considerably increased after the temperature had dropped to the freezing point, but the increase in their prices had stressed them out.

They also complained of prolonged power outages and said electric supply remained suspended for as many as 20 hours a day. According to them, firewood is selling at Rs600-Rs800 per 50kg and LPG at Rs200-Rs220 per kg.

The people also complained that gas cylinders were in short supply in the market and said they had to wait for around a week for their delivery.

Shah Mohammad, a firewood dealer, said he brought most of the firewood from Tirah Valley as it was cheaper there in comparison with other parts of the country.

“Militant groups now control the business. They have established checkpoints to illegally tax wood dealers,” he said.

The dealer said dry firewood of good quality was supplied to Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for better price.

He said the demand for traditional stove had greatly increased due to the excessive loadshedding.

Jamshed Khan, a local trader, said he sold 300-400 traditional stoves daily.

He said the higher demand had led to increase in stove price.

The trader said raw material for these stoves was brought in from Peshawar and that stoves were made locally in line with the people’s demands.

He said firewood was used in stoves for cooking and keeping rooms warm during cold nights.