ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Ministry of Petroleum has directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to ensure that LPG is available to consumers at official price and there is no hoarding of the fuel as Ramazan approaches.

The directive was issued on Friday after a complaint was filed by LPG Distributors Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar wherein he said that marketing companies were manipulating stocks and creating ‘shortage’ to keep the prices high.

The office of Director General Gas said that Assistant Director Ministry of Petroleum Asif Gul would be part of the team to be formulated by Ogra to ensure that the LPG is available at notified prices to the consumers.

The regulatory authority on July 5, 2012 reduced LPG price by around Rs30 per kilogram. However, the LPG marketing companies have so far delayed passing on the price reduction to consumers.

The notification said that the maximum consumer price for 100 per cent locally produced LPG for July will be Rs983 per 11.8 kg cylinder or Rs83.30 per kg.

The maximum consumer price for 100 per cent imported LPG is fixed at Rs1,136 per 11.8 kg cylinder or Rs96.27 per kg and for the mixed local and imported LGP the price will be Rs1,020 per 11.8 kg cylinder or Rs86.4 per kg.

Ogra has also advised the marketing companies to issue sales invoice/gate pass by the company in print format, clearly mentioning whether the consignment is imported or local before dispatching the truck from storage and filling plants.

The authority has also directed LPG marketing companies as well as all the distributors to ensure notified prices otherwise relevant department of the regulatory body will take serious action against the violators.

Talking to Dawn, an official of the petroleum ministry said that marketing companies were deliberately delaying the passing of price reduction to make enormous profits in Ramazan.

“Due to the high demand of fried items, many people set up temporary stalls and the cooking is done on LPG burners. Similarly in hilly areas and remote parts where gas is not available, the demand for LPG increases manifold,” the official said.

Ogra teams would be visiting the filling plants of LPG marketing companies to ensure that the rates were reduced and the sale continues as per their allocated quota.

“In case of violations, we will fine them and even seal their plants as penalty,” the official added.

Meanwhile, Khokhar has also called upon Ogra and petroleum ministry that the LPG marketing companies need to import 20 per cent of their total PG quota.

“This is according to the rules. However, since February 2012 we have not imported any consignment and were selling only locally produced LPG at imported rates,” he added.