ISLAMABAD
The Cabinet Division has sought an explanation from OGRA on the matter of ‘ill-treatment and misbehavior’ to the delegation of LPG Distributors Association by Member Gas OGRA Mr Muhammad Arif during a recent meeting.
According to details, the meeting was called up to discuss issue of taking action against the powerful cartel involved in alleged black marketing of LPG and minting around 8 billion rupees.
In a letter written to chairman OGRA, the Cabinet Division informed that an application has been given to Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani in the Senate Secretariat in which a reference was made to OGRA’s meeting in which a Member Gas Muhammad Arif threatened of serious consequences while adopting an inappropriate attitude towards the LPG distributors delegation.
The Secretary of Cabinet Division has been asked for comments and the matter has been referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat.
The meeting, according to sources had continued for almost an hour during which while the Chairman OGRA was keen to devise some effective strategy against over-charging but like previous meeting it was noted that Member Gas Mr Muhammad Arif was least bit interested, had casual attitude in the deliberations, and at times resorted to misbehaving and abusive language with almost all distributors during discussion, sabotaging the serious and noble effort of the Chairman OGRA to curb black marketing.
The Member OGRA somewhat ordered Chairman LPG Industries Association Ifran Khokhar at the end of the meeting to meet him personally next day for discussion on the issue.
When on his command Mr Khokhar reached the OGRA office at the allotted time, Mr Arif already had a visitor. However Mr Khokhar apprised him that for the last 20-25 days, historical black marketing of LPG was underway in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Bulistan and other areas. About Rs 20 per kg, Rs 2,400 on domestic cylinder, Rs 9,000 on commercial cylinder and Rs 2,000 per metric ton extra were being charged against OGRA prices fixed for September. Black marketers are pocketing around Rs 400 million on daily basis and in last 20-25 days about Rs 8 billion has been swindled. Hearing this notion, Mr Arif became furious and started calling names to Mr Khokhar. He also threatened him of dire consequences. Mr Khokhar was so shocked at his unruly attitude that he left the office in utter disgust.
