Sindh government has decided to take strict action against illegal gas cylinder shops operating in densely populated areas, labeling them a major threat to public safety.
The Home Department of Sindh has issued directives to all district administrations, instructing them to immediately act against shopkeepers involved in the unauthorized sale of gas cylinders.
According to the Home Department, gas cylinder shops should not be located in crowded areas due to the risks involved, and businesses should be relocated to less populated zones. This decision follows a tragic cylinder explosion in Hyderabad, which claimed the lives of 27 people. After the incident, the Sindh government directed deputy commissioners across the province to take action against illegal LNG and LPG shops.
The Home Minister has ordered inspections of these shops, urging that substandard cylinders be confiscated, and businesses be regulated under federal safety protocols. Sindh Police have also issued closure notices to various shops, resulting in the shutdown of many illegal operations. However, some shops in crowded areas continue to operate despite these orders, with transactions still taking place. In areas where shops have been shut down, residents are facing difficulties.
Due to prolonged natural gas shortages, LPG had emerged as a practical alternative, and now, with shop closures, people are forced to buy gas at inflated prices through black markets. Citizens are calling on the government to swiftly implement new safety standards, allowing the shops to reopen under stricter regulations.
