After the first shipment of oil reaching Pakistan from Russia, another consignment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia by road via Uzbekistan and Afghanistan has also reached Torkham border, which would be cleared by security within the next three or four days.
Though national and international media has covered the agreement to import oil from Russia, however, Pakistan’s LPG agreement with Russia could not receive much coverage and the reason behind it was the venture of the private sector that imported LPG from Russia and there was no such agreement on the government level.
LPG is used as fuel in various regions of Pakistan. Besides domestic use, it is particularly used in the industrial sector. According to an estimate, the annual demand for LPG in Pakistan is up to 1.4 million metric tons.
Out of this total demand, Pakistan produces approximately 876,000 metric tons, which means that Pakistan produces about 40% of the LPG demand domestically, while the remaining LPG is imported from Turkmenistan and Iran.
Previously, LPG was imported through Taftan border, Gwadar, Mand, Panjgur, and Chaman borders. Now, the import has started through the Torkham border.
All Pakistan LPG Industries Association emphasized the need for setting up the laboratories at the borders as well as Port Qasim, to check the quality of the gas. This would ensure that substandard gas does not enter Pakistan. The body termed the import of LPG as a positive step.
The government has supported the private sector. Initially, LPG cargo was not coming through the Torkham border, but now permission has been granted and it is hoped that more containers will arrive in the near future.
Though the private sector is importing LPG from Russia, it is the obligation of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to keep check and balance on the price of LPG so as the people may get a cheap source of energy.
The importing of LPG by the private sector is an appreciable measure, but it could be permitted to fix its price and make big money with both hands on the cost of people’s problems.
Pakistan has been facing an energy crisis for a long time but with the import of Russian LPG, the supply would be stable, which would definitely reduce the pressure from the demand chain of LPG in the country.
If government is facilitating private sector in importing LPG on one side, and on the other hand It is also responsibility of the government not to allow the importers to mint huge margin of profit from this deal as it had been noticed that the public suffered a lot in the past due to the domination of mafia. The government should keep the public interest in mind and dismay the anticipations of the cartel of getting gigantic benefits from the import.
The arrival of LPG would ease the already inflation-hit people and its price would reduce significantly in the country, if the government would perform its duty of controlling its price in a befitting manner.