A ship carrying 4,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Bahrain has arrived at Yellowstone Port Qasim. The shipment has been imported at a time when there is concern over LPG shortage in the country and high prices in the open market.
According to the Port Qasim Authority, the ship anchored at the port at 8:42 am on October 24. The process of handling the imported gas has started, while this shipment is expected to help meet the needs of domestic and commercial consumers.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed the official consumer price of LPG for October at Rs 279.34 per kg. Accordingly, the price of an 11.8 kg domestic cylinder is Rs 3,296.23.
However, according to the information provided, LPG is being sold at Rs 600 to Rs 650 per kg in some cities. If these rates are maintained in the local market, then there is a significant difference between the official price and the amount charged from the consumers
A major reason for the disruption in LPG supply has been cited as the disruption in imports from Iran. Several trucks loaded with LPG were stranded due to the suspension of trade activities at the border crossings, which increased the pressure on shortages and price increases.
On October 25, there were reports of the resumption of trade at the Gabd-Ramadan border crossing between Pakistan and Iran. This development is expected to improve the movement of stranded trucks and supply of LPG.
Additional import shipments and resumption of border trade may improve market availability, but there is no guarantee of an immediate or uniform reduction in prices. This will depend on gas shipments, clearance of import trucks, local distribution and supply and demand conditions.
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