Cabinet proposes uniform gas prices

Cabinet members have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to introduce uniform gas prices in a bid to do away with alleged favouritism, which benefitted certain manufacturers. At present, different gas prices are being charged from urea manufacturers. Some are paying lower tariffs whereas some others are asked to pay higher rates. However, all manufacturers are receiving same prices for fertiliser supply to farmers, indicating that the companies paying lower gas tariffs are making more profit. During a recent meeting of the cabinet, a member insisted that all fertiliser manufacturers must be supplied gas at a uniform price and there should be no favouritism. Another member pointed out that if fertiliser manufacturers charged different prices in response to the variation in gas tariffs, it would cause market distortion.