Gas Crisis: Expected price increase rejected

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association (APCNGA) has rejected the expected increase in gas prices and termed it unjustified and unfair. “The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has invited us for hearing on Aug 22-23 for further increase in gas rates to meet their new development project’s expenses,” APCNGA Central Chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said in a statement on Tuesday. Paracha also dispelled the news as propaganda that CNG dealers earned hefty profit of around Rs36 per kg, saying that the margin of LPG and LNG dealers should also be investigated. He alleged that the recent increase in gas prices was part of efforts to cover up gas theft by the SNGPL and SSGPL. The Ogra on Aug 7 issued a notification regarding across the board 13.55% increase in gas price for all sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2011.