“Around 80 percent demand of LPG is met through local production and 20 percent from the import. Local LPG production quota holders are involved in hoarding and black-marketing to make a quick buck in the season,” he said while talking to APP.

He said LPG marketing companies and dealers were bound to sell the commodity at rates fixed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), under which LPG would be sold at controlled price of Rs. 113 per kilogram and Rs. 1338.78 for domestic cylinder of 11.8 kg.

He alleged that some local LPG marketing companies and dealers had increased the price on their own to create artificial shortage, suggesting the OGRA to conduct audit of their accounts.

Answering a question, he said no doubt the LPG demand had substantially increased in the cold weather conditions but it did not mean that there was any shortage like situation as import of approximately 50,000 metric ton (mt) LPG was projected in the current month.

“As many as 25,000 mt LPG has been imported by December 14.

This month’s total import will be almost double as compared to the month of November,” he said.

Khokhar appreciated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for abolishing regulatory duty, reducing general sales tax on import of LPG and bringing down the commodity price by 50 percent in a short span of time.

“It is for the first time that rates of the LPG and LNG are almost same, rather LPG price is Rs 4,000 cheaper as compared to per drum of a furnace oil,” he added.

Irfan Khokhar claimed that the LPG is 60 per cent cheaper than petrol and diesel, while 15 percent inexpensive to Compressed Natural Gas.

Replying to another question, he said in routine around 90,000 mt LPG is consumed every month (including local and imported), but in winter season it was almost doubled for many reasons like load-management on networks of Sui Southern & Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited .

He said the OGRA had empowered local administration to take action against those involved in black-marketing of LPG and violating its rates fixed for the open market.