LAHORE: LPG sector of Pakistan should be treated as a major industry and should be given all necessary facilities as it is playing a major supportive role by providing cost effective and environment friendly fuel to the middle and lower class besides providing huge revenue to the government and employment to millions.
The demand was raised at a meeting of Pakistan LPG Marketers Association presided by its Chairman Farooq Iftikhar.
Association members and stakeholders present in the meeting said that LPG sector of Pakistan is playing the role of unheralded soldier of economy and masses but is being ignored by the decision makers.
They said that it is not only an affordable fuel but is also environment friendly which reduces air pollution by 90% in comparison to traditionally burnt biomass.
Iftikhar said that LPG burns almost completely, as such the proportion of pollutants are reduced. He said that if LPG is promoted as fuel, it would reduce the consumption of fossil fuel, coal and wood etc. He further stated that LPG stoves quickly supply heat and work more efficiently than stoves which burn biomass.
Higher Calorific value makes LPG a cost-competitive and efficient fuel for users who are not connected to the natural gas network. He said that LPG can be stored in cylinders or in special tanks placed along houses, farms, industrial complexes and the like, making it a highly flexible fuel that can be used for many purposes, presently, 1.2 Million Metric Tonnes of LPG is consumed in the country annually by over 10 million households, commercial units and small industries.
Iftikhar elaborated the fact that huge investment has been made in LPG sector of Pakistan which should be protected with favorable policies of the government but current regulation of this sector has put most of the LPG marketing companies on the verge of closure
because of thoughtless bidding for LPG quota, uncontrolled imports, and smuggling of hazardous and low quality LPG, while Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources and OGRA are playing the role of silent spectators due to reasons unknown.
The current circumstances, makes it very hard for most of LPG marketing companies to run their businesses as they are already bearing huge financial loss, If marketing companies close down, it would not only be a big blow to the huge investment but will also render hundreds of thousands of families deprived of their livelihood, besides huge loss to the natured exchequer, Chairman LPGAP added.
He said that the producer price of locally produced LPG currently is too high. As such it is depriving the common man of it buying power to use good quality LPG and is thus forced to use substandard LPG injuries to health.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources and OGRA must take measures to bring down the local producer’s input cost, as it would encouraged it use as fuel. Resultantly, burden on Natural Gas reserves would reduce, and making more gas available for power generation and the
industrial sector, he said.
He urged upon the government to grant status of major industry to the LPG industry, and provide necessary facilities in the larger interest of economy and the masses.
