Fuel of the poor' LPG soars in Pakistan, forcing rickshaw drivers to cut meals

In Lahore, Pakistan, LPG prices have surged after the closure of two Iranian border crossings on Oct. 17, disrupting imports and hitting thousands of low-income drivers who run their vehicles on liquefied petroleum gas. Rashid Ali, 33, once earned about $6.50 a day as he worked long hours in a three-wheeled rickshaw, but now he says he sometimes makes only around $3. The Awami Rickshaw Union says roughly 70% of its members’ 43,000 auto-rickshaws and nearly 8,000 Qingqis use LPG. A 12-kg cylinder jumped 56% within days to 7,000 rupees. Ali and others have cut meals, while passengers resist higher fares.