Three CNG stations sealed in Multan
The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) on Monday sealed three CNG stations in Multan and Muzaffargarh districts for not selling CNG at the new price set by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Abdur Rasheed Arshad, the SNGPL south Punjab general manager, had issued a notification which said that the CNG supply would be disconnected if stations were found selling CNG at old rates or not selling at all.
On Friday, monitoring officers visited several areas and sealed three CNG stations, two in Multan (in Shah Rukne Aalam Colony and near Vehari Square) and one in Muzaffargarh.
Monitoring officers said one of the CNG stations in Multan was selling CNG at the old price, while the other two were closed.
Arshad told The Express Tribune that complaint centres had been set up in some districts where citizens could report violators. He said since the SC order, only three CNG stations had been sealed in south Punjab. He said the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas had instructed the officials to ensure relief for the citizens.
Transport fares irk citizens
In Faisalabad, citizens complained that transporters were charging the same prices despite the reduction in CNG rates. They said rickshaw and taxi drivers also demanded high fares. Many passengers were seen arguing with bus conductors for overcharging.
Samad Abbas, heading to Multan, said bus conductors knew that passengers had no choice but to buy tickets at high rates.
“Most of them are even asking for Eidi,” he said.
He said the reduction in CNG rates came as a relief for the people, but the transporters had “taken away that relief”.
Most commuters said that though the transporters were getting CNG at the new rates, they had not reduced fares.
Muhammad Zohaib, a boarder at UET in Lahore, said he visited his home in Faisalabad on alternate weekends. He said he was hoping transporters would also reduce fares, but the situation at the bus terminals “had disappointed him”.
“How will we, who travel in public transport, benefit from the Supreme Court order?”
He said the Supreme Court should take notice of the “transport mafia”.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.
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