GUJRAT: Citizens, including rickshaw drivers, owners of small restaurants, tandoors and tea stalls as well as the domestic consumers, have complained that liguefied petroleum gas (LPG) is being sold at more than twice the government-notified rates.

They claimed that sellers in Gujrat`s local markets were charging exorbitant rates and selling LPG at Rs550 to 600 per kilo against the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) notified rate of Rs280 per kilo for up to an 11.8kg cylinder for the month of October.

They said that LPG traders were fleecing them on the pretext of supply shortages due to the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region.

The domestic consumers said that with the onset of winter season,the natural gas supply had already dwindled and the price of LPG was also becoming an unaffordable option for them.

They said the prices of most essential commodities were already on the higher side and now the prices of fuel for cooking had also skyrocketed. They urged the government to take notice of the situation and bring the prices back to the Ogra-notified rate.

Talking to Dawn, Gujrat Assistant Commissioner Abdul Qadeer Zarkoon said that action against LPG overcharging was ongoing with imposition of hefty fines and the administration was also sealing repeat violators.

He said that the price hike was caused by the supply chain shortages and action was also being taken against such elements. Correspondent