Aiming to prevent gas cylinder blasts, Sindh government on Monday initiated a crackdown against the illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shops in Karachi.

Following a cylinder explosion in Hyderabad in June, the Sindh government took significant steps to regulate LNG and LPG operations across the province.

Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar directed all deputy commissioners to inspect LNG and LPG shops, confiscate substandard gas cylinders, and ensure shops operate according to strict safety protocols.

The government made weekly inspection reports mandatory, and relocate the shops markets and residential areas.

Last month, Lanjar informed the Sindh Assembly that shopkeepers violating LPG regulations are being issued notices and prosecuted.

According to the Independenturdu report, shopkeepers compliant with the SOPs face police harassment despite having the required permits, OGRA certification, and emergency preparedness measures.

In response, Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Fazal Abbasi assured that measures are in place to prevent unnecessary harassment of compliant businesses.

As natural gas shortages worsen, households and hotels increasingly rely on LPG, leading to rising costs and significant economic strain.

LPG prices surged to Rs 300 per kg due to demand spikes, with many hotels forced to shut down.