Karachi In Sindh Government has launched a crackdown on illegal LPG and LNG shops across Sindh, including the city, which is still ongoing.
In June this year Hyderabad After the cylinder explosion in Sindh, the Sindh government issued letters to all the deputy commissioners, in which Sindh Interior Minister Zia Linjar ordered the deputy commissioners to inspect the LNG and LPG shops, confiscating substandard gas cylinders. Go and all shops should be made to run under SOPs.
Further, inspection of illegal LNG and LPG cylinder shops should be done and report should be submitted every week. Substandard cylinders should be confiscated, and LNG and LPG shops should be shifted away from markets and residential areas.
While continuing the inspection process, on October 30, Sindh Interior Minister Zia Linjar, during the attention notice in the Sindh Assembly on the illegal sale of LPG cylinders, said that notices to the shopkeepers to prevent the incidents of LPG cylinders. are also being issued, while cases are being registered against non-implementers.
‘The shopkeepers who follow the rules and regulations are also targeted by the police?’
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Irshad Kayani, a shopkeeper associated with the LPG business, said that he has been associated with the LPG business for 22 years and that he is running the business as per the instructions of the Sindh government, which includes precautionary measures. All disciplines of measures are included. OGRA certificate and permit are also available, cylinder quality documents are also kept at the shop to satisfy the inspection team. The store has fire extinguishers (fire styngwashes), ball-type devices in case of emergency, sand to control light fire or sparks, emergency alarm facility and first aid. A special type of fire blanket is also kept with the box.
According to the LPG shopkeeper, the stove in his house runs from this business, but the law enforcement agencies are harassing him even for running the business according to the rules. The police mobile comes, despite seeing the documents they put pressure. Under the guise of crackdown, those businessmen who regularly follow the ongoing directives of the Sindh government are also falling.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner of Eastern District Shehzad Fazal Abbasi told Independent Urdu that ‘Deputy Commissioners submitted the report of the operations carried out in their respective districts during the last one month to Commissioner Karachi. According to the report, 97 shops were sealed while an FIR was registered against 15 shopkeepers. He assured that a request will be made to the SSP for those implementing the SOPs so that the shopkeepers are not harassed unnecessarily.
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On May 23, OGRA had issued a notification according to which all monitoring powers, including taking action against marketing companies for selling LPG cylinders and gas to unauthorized distributors, have been handed over to the DC and AC. Taha Salim, Deputy Commissioner of Central District, told Independent Urdu in this regard that ‘after the illegal LPG shops, hotels that are using non-standard cylinders will also be sealed.’
Domestic consumers and hotel owners with LPG
Due to shortage of natural gas and load shedding, LPG is being used as alternative energy in homes and hotels across the country. Shahnaz Bibi, a resident of Gulshan Iqbal, told Independent Urdu that the gas crisis has intensified day by day. Worried about the announced and unannounced gas shedding, they are forced to spend on cylinders, which has disrupted the budget. The gas bill and then the cylinder cost are separate. Now that winter is coming and the month of Ramadan is also near, the gas crisis is intensifying.
Hotel owners say, ‘Almost all hotel kitchens are running on cylinders. But after the crackdown, the price of LPG has gone up, and now LPG has gone up to Rs 300 per kg while many hotels have also closed down.’
In this regard, energy expert Abubakar Ismail told Independent Urdu that ‘in the coming days, the use of LPG will increase further, which will also increase the prices. Even as local production declines, LNG will have to be imported. Sui Southern Gas Company continues to supply gas which will continue to be needed by domestic consumers in the coming times. Currently, industries are not shutting down, so the direct gas crisis is not affecting the industry and the economy.
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**Interview with Irshad Kayani, LPG Shopkeeper**
**Host:** Welcome to the show, Irshad. Thank you for joining us today. As a shopkeeper in the LPG business for over two decades, what’s your perspective on the recent crackdown by the Sindh government on illegal LNG and LPG shops?
**Irshad Kayani:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pressing issue, and while I understand the concerns regarding safety, I feel that many legitimate shopkeepers, like myself, are also being unfairly targeted. I adhere strictly to all the government regulations, including maintaining high safety standards and having the necessary permits.
**Host:** Can you elaborate on the safety measures you mentioned? What do you have in place to ensure the safety of your customers and the community?
**Irshad Kayani:** Absolutely. My shop is equipped with fire extinguishers, emergency alarms, first aid kits, and even special fire blankets. I have all the required documents, including quality certificates for the cylinders. We conduct regular safety drills and make sure our equipment is in top condition. However, despite following all these protocols, law enforcement authorities often harass us.
**Host:** You mentioned harassment despite being compliant. Can you share more about your experiences with law enforcement during this crackdown?
**Irshad Kayani:** Yes, it’s quite frustrating. Police come to my shop, see all my documents, and yet they still pressure me. It feels like they are using the crackdown as an excuse to shake down honest business owners. We are trying to do everything right, but it looks like we are being painted with the same brush as illegal operators.
**Host:** That sounds extremely challenging. What do you think could be a better approach for the government to take in handling this situation?
**Irshad Kayani:** I believe there should be a more differentiated approach. Instead of broadly targeting all LPG shops, inspections should be focused specifically on those that are clearly violating safety regulations. Furthermore, the government should provide support to compliant shopkeepers like us instead of subjecting us to unnecessary harassment.
**Host:** You mentioned that you rely on this business for your livelihood. How has the crackdown impacted your business and the local community?
**Irshad Kayani:** The uncertainty is quite detrimental. Customers are wary to buy from LPG shops, fearing that they may be shut down any day. This not only affects my income but also the available services to the community, especially in the context of the ongoing energy crisis.
**Host:** It’s clear that a balanced approach is needed. Thank you, Irshad, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. We hope that the situation improves for compliant shopkeepers like you.
**Irshad Kayani:** Thank you for giving me a platform to voice these concerns.
