The distributors of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have announced that they would observe countrywide strike on February 15 against the government's inability to regulate LPG prices.

This was stated by Irfan Khokar, Chairman of All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday.

He said that fixation of LPG consumers' prices is the responsibility of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), but Authority has never taken any interest in regulating LPG prices and has left the poor consumers to the mercy of LPG marketing companies and LPG producers.

He said that the LPG producers have increased the commodity prices without any reason as 60 percent of the LPG was being produced by the government owned plants.

He said that the state-owned LPG producers--Oil and gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum (PPL), Pak Arab Refinery (Parco) and Pakistan Refinery are the major LPG producers in the country, but, linking their prices with international LPG prices, they have also jacked up the prices by Rs 15,800 per ton.

He alleged that the LPG marketing companies have earned a profit of Rs 350 billion over the past 6 years.

Irfan urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Prime Minister and President to take notice of the current situation.