Ogra criticised for not taking action against substandard cylinders makers

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has been alleged for its unwillingness to take action against manufacturers of substandard cylinders, which result in LPG cylinder blasts. The LPG Association has come up with a demand to amend the law to make manufacturing of LPG substandard cylinders as non-bailable offence. The Ogra issues licences to manufacturers of LPG cylinders and, therefore, it is regulator to take action against manufacturers of substandard cylinders.
As many as 3,240 people had been killed during the last 11 years due to blasts of substandard LPG cylinders, Chairman LPG Distributors Association Irfan Khokhar said in a press conference. The officials of Ogra held a meeting with LPG Distributors Association to sort out how to control manufacturing of substandard LPG cylinders. Irfan Khokhar revealed that innocent lives were lost in the incidents of substandard cylinders explosion.
He alleged that Ogra had issued licences to companies producing substandard cylinders and it was not willing to take any action against the culprits under political influence. Citing an example, he claimed that around 400 factories set up in Gujranwala were manufacturing substandard cylinders. "If no action is taken in 10 days, the LPG Distributors Association will take the matter to court of law as it will not compromise on the safety of cylinders," he argued.
He reiterated that people were under impression that the authority was deliberately not taking quick action against the substandard cylinders as people in Parliament were backing the mafia. Responding to a question, he said the LPG sector would be regulated when there was no difference in supply and demand of the LPG. He further said the government generated revenue of Rs 42 billion in a year on sale of an estimated 12MT LPG. He anticipated that the revenue of government would increase to Rs 100 billion in 2017.
Irfan suggested that the LPG sector should be recognised as an industry and there should be an import policy of LPG to stabilise prices in domestic market.
Whereas, Spokesman Ogra stated that the meeting took place in a cordial environment and the suggestions of LPG Marketing and Distribution Association were well received. They have been informed that authority will look into their recommendations and take necessary steps and actions against manufactures of substandard cylinders as and when required according to the provisions of Ogra Ordinance, requisite policy and rules.