LAHORE, Jan 16: The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Association of Pakistan, representing all LPG marketing companies, has accused distributors and decanters of hoarding and black-marketing the LPG in the city despite sufficient supplies.

Association spokesman Fasih Ahmad said in a statement there was no shortage of LPG in the country and was easily available in most parts of the country except Lahore and surrounding towns. Prices would have been high in all parts of the country, had there been an actual shortage but retail price had decreased in Karachi in the last few days.

He said a gang of LPG distributors and decanters was buying the gas for Rs58 per kg and black-marketing it up to Rs140 per kg openly but accusing the LPG production and marketing companies of raising prices. He said such gangsters had forced the city district government to raid shops.

He said t the association and city district government teams patrolling the market had identified 55 retail outlets in Lahore where the LPG was available at Rs65 per kg. All retail outlets were fully stocked as well as the availability of gas at the retail outlets at fixed prices belied the claims of distributors association in respect of shortage and black-marketing.

He said the LPG distributors should present proofs of malpractices of production and marketing companies to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority for immediate measures. They should also inform the LGAP about the points where the gas was being black-marketed on telephone No 0308-4241514 for necessary action.