Ogra raises price of LPG by Rs 18 per kg

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Thursday increased the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Rs 18 per kg. According to a notification issued by the authority the increase in LPG price would be applicable to imported LPG gas, while in July the authority fixed price for local LPG producers at Rs 105 per kg.
After the increase in imported LPG price, per kg gas would be available at Rs 123 against Rs 105 and one domestic cylinder would cost Rs 1450. Two main LPG importers - Ravi Group and SHV have imported 2,500 and 1,800 tons of LPG gas respectively. "In continuation of our earlier letter of even No dated July, 2011 whereby the consumer price for LPG has been fixed at Rs 1239 per 11.8-kg cylinder ie Rs 105/kg including distributor margin of Rs 70/11.8 kg cylinder.
In order to improve LPG supplies/imports, Ogra has determined the maximum consumer price for imported LPG at Rs 1450/11.8 kg cylinder (Rs 123/kg) for all the urban and rural areas of the country. Due to higher transportation cost in AJK, Fata and Northern Areas, Rs 30/11.8kg cylinder will be admissible to these mentioned maximum LPG consumer prices," the notification said.
"All LPG marketing companies are advised to make available the sales invoice/gate pass on the company printed format clearly mentioning whether the consignment is imported or local before dispatching the truck from storage and filling plants," the notification added. According to Irfan Khokar, Chairman All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association, those LPG marketing companies selling locally-produced LPG have started fleecing the consumers by charging the price Ogra announced for imported LPG gas. He said in all 13 LPG marketing companies out of 86 have imported LPG gas, while the rest are getting gas from local sources.