Chitral forest under threat: Soaring LPG prices force residents back to firewood

Chitral forest under threat: Soaring LPG prices force residents back to firewood

The News Report

CHITRAL: A sharp increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices in Chitral has forced many residents to reconsider using firewood for cooking and heating, sparking concerns over the future of the region’s already limited forests.

According to local estimates, forests cover only about two percent of Chitral’s total area, with most of the remaining forested land located in Lower Chitral. For many years, firewood served as the primary source of household fuel. However, widespread adoption of LPG in recent years has significantly reduced pressure on forest resources, offering hope that deforestation would slow and the environmental impacts associated with forest loss, including an increased risk of flash floods, could be mitigated.

However, that progress is now under threat as LPG prices continue to soar.The locals said the price of a 15-kilogram LPG cylinder, which previously sold for around Rs5,000, had climbed to approximately Rs7,500 over the last few months, placing it beyond the reach of many households.

An LPG dealer in Chitral said consumers’ purchasing power had been severely affected by the price increase, leading to a sharp decline in sales.“People can no longer afford LPG, and our business has almost come to a standstill,” the dealer said.

The dealer explained that LPG was previously transported to Chitral from Punjab and Peshawar. Later, an LPG plant was established in the district and granted permission to bring in up to six gas tankers. However, the dealer alleged that the plant currently brings only one tanker at a time, limiting supply and contributing to higher prices.

According to the dealer, the district administration recently convened a meeting with LPG dealers and the plant owner to agree on a pricing mechanism. Although the agreed prices were implemented for a few days, the arrangement was short-lived, and prices soon returned to previous levels.

“If the plant supplied six tankers daily, LPG prices could come down significantly,” the dealer added. The residents also recalled that during the tenure of former MNA Shahzada Iftikharuddin, a project was approved to establish three LPG plants at different locations in Chitral and distribute gas to consumers through a pipeline network. Land worth millions of rupees was reportedly acquired for the project.

However, residents said the project was put on hold after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government came to power, and construction has yet to begin. Residents have urged the government to revive the project, arguing that a reliable and affordable LPG supply would not only provide relief to consumers but also help protect Chitral’s fragile forests by reducing dependence on firewood. (Courtesy: The News)