Ogra asks provinces to take action against LPG profiteers

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has requested the provinces to take strict action against liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) profiteers with the help of their local administrations.

The authority said it has been observed that some of the LPG retailers are selling the commodity at higher prices against the authority’s notified prices.

In a letter to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad chief commissioner, the authority said that since 2018 it has been notifying the commodity prices to all the LPG producers and its marketing companies, besides, the provincial governments.

The Ogra said it had notified the LPG prices for June and the notification, in this regard, is available on its website.

Meanwhile, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority said that it has fixed the prices of 11.8kg LPG cylinder at Rs1,890 inclusive of 17 per cent general sales tax (GST), dealer margins and other taxes.

This price is applicable from July 1, 2021, it said, adding that the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners of all the provincial governments have been authorised for taking cognizance of offences punishable under the Ogra Ordinance regarding illegal activities, for a further period of three years till February 24, 2024.

The authorities concerned are bound to take action against illegal activities such as overpricing, less filing of LPG at the filling points and authorised LPG distributors against the notified prices.

The regulatory authority said that it has decided to take action against the profiteers who are selling the liquefied petroleum gas at higher rates than that of the government prescribed prices.

All Pakistan LPG Distributors and Importers Association chairman Irfan Khokhar has welcomed the Ogra’s decision to take action against the illegal price hike of the commodity.

He said in the last one day, the prices of the commodity have been raised twice, and the LPG filling stations are selling it at Rs170/kg against the notified price of Rs160/kg, while the 11.8kg cylinder is being sold at Rs2,000 instead of Rs1,890.

The LPG prices have reached an all-time high in the country, he said, adding that in Gilgit-Baltistan, the commodity is being sold at Rs190/kg.

Khokhar warned the government that if no action was taken against the profiteers, the LPG dealers will go for a countrywide strike after Eid-ul-Azha.