The use of LPG cylinders in commercial transport is strictly prohibited, yet many passenger vehicles continue to flout the law, putting lives at risk. Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab, Mr Fuad Hashim Rabbani, said this during a visit to the Burn Unit in Multan, where female students injured in a recent LPG cylinder blast are under treatment.
The incident took place in a passenger van in Ahmadpur East, where a gas leak led to a tragic explosion, severely injuring several students. Rabbani visited the injured girls to inquire after their health and the quality of medical care being provided. Professor Dr Ijaz Hussain Shah briefed him on the condition of the patients and the treatment underway.
Rabbani expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a painful tragedy. He assured the affected families that the Government of Punjab stands in full solidarity with them and will take all necessary measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
He said district administrations across South Punjab have already launched a crackdown against commercial vehicles operating with LPG cylinders. Despite ongoing fines and the impoundment of non-compliant vehicles, he acknowledged that enforcement challenges persist.
The Additional Chief Secretary said there is an urgent need for a more robust and effective strategy to eliminate the use of LPG cylinders in public transport. He added that a summary containing policy recommendations would soon be submitted to the Punjab Government to address the issue on a priority basis.