Rising LPG prices burden Pakistanis amidst inflation woes

WEB DESK: The burden on Pakistan’s citizens, already strained by soaring inflation, has intensified as cooking costs escalate.

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices have surged to Rs400 per kg in mountainous regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and remote areas due to rampant black market activities, during the holy month of Ramazan.

Elsewhere, consumers are facing prices ranging from Rs300 to Rs320, a significant departure from the rates set by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) at Rs257.59 for consumers and Rs256.79 for producers as of March 1, 2024.

Notably, the official prices remain elusive nationwide, with hoarding exacerbating the situation daily. OGRA has launched efforts to crack down on illegal hoarding, aiming to ensure that LPG is available to consumers at regulated rates.

However, sustainable resolution hinges on bolstering local production, a responsibility that falls on the government.

In tandem with increasing production, strict enforcement of official prices by LPG plants is imperative to mitigate the crisis effectively.

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