CNG association threatens protest drives

Says complete shutdown of gas ‘unacceptable’.

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) said on Thursday that they would launch protests if gas supply was not restored for CNG stations in Punjab, and demanded to be provided gas during the day when there is no constraint of gas supply.

While addressing a press conference, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said that Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) had suspended the supply of natural gas to the CNG sector in Punjab for an indefinite period without the government’s approval and despite stiff opposition from the Planning Commission, making the move illegal and unconstitutional.

Paracha said that CNG operators will not allow a complete closure in the name of gas load management, calling such a move exploitation.

The SNGPL’s one-sided decision has resulted in inflation, hike in transport fares, disturbance in daily life, black marketing of petrol, hike in LPG prices by Rs40 per kg, and a reduction in forex reserves which is pushing country towards a catastrophe, Paracha said.

The leader of the CNG sector said that filling stations across Punjab have been closed and there is reduced pressure in the provinces of Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but domestic consumers are still not getting gas.

Paracha said that the decision of Supreme Court has proved that CNG sector has been paying the highest tariff and maximum taxes but it is subjected to injustices. Gas suspension has left CNG owners unable to pay gas bills, Paracha stated.

Paracha informed that a delegation of APCNGA would call on the minister for petroleum on Friday to get the issue resolved, otherwise they would be compelled to lay off workers after which nationwide peaceful protests would be initiated.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.

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