LAHORE, March 6: The LPG Distributors Association has demanded immediate permission for duty-free import of the gas to prevent expected shortage and increase in prices due to suspension of production by Pak-Arab Refinery for one month from March 30 for maintenance.

Association chairman Irfan Khokhar said in a statement that immediate import of LPG was necessary because its daily supplies would reduce by 450 metric tons due to suspension of production by Pak-Arab Refinery. Other marketing companies were likely to exploit the situation and make efforts to raise the prices by manipulating supplies if arrangements were not made for meeting the shortage created due to closure of Pak-Arab Refinery. — Reporter