commodity prices. The LPG retailers are looting public only due to the mismanagement by concerned authorities as they are not monitoring them properly.
A key post official from Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), on condition of anonymity, said that LPG auto refuelling stations could not attract investors, as Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority issued only 50 licences to seven firms this year. In order to meet growing energy demands and severe shortage of natural gas especially in winter, government has been planning to introduce LPG as alternative fuel, he claimed.
He also told this scribe that as many as 4,314 LPG distributors are registered with different LPG marketing companies, while another 9,000 distributors are yet to be registered. He said Ogra could only take action against registered dealers on decanting and overcharging.
Experts believe that recent slump in petrol prices that brought one-litre petrol to around Rs78 would exert a further negative impact on the LPG re-fuelling business in the country.
Talking to 'The News' people said that LPG retailers and dealers are looting public but concerned authorities are looking at the whole drama with closed eyes.
Niaz Ahmed, an LPG user, said that retailers have broken the back of a common man as they are openly fleecing public by selling LPG in higher prices. But, local management and concerned authorities were seeing the whole drama with closed eyes.
Muhammad Habib, another consumer, said that he has gas connection at his home but there is no gas for stoves. "In the state of helplessness we are using LPG at home, but skyrocketing prices are creating financial difficulties for us, but the concerned authorities are not taking any action," he said.
Similarly, Additional District Collector (ADC) Muhammad Arif Raheem has given a policy statement that they are making a strong planning to trap LPG looters. "I have formed special teams to monitor LPG 'mafia' who is selling commodity at higher prices," he said.