Closure of gas: Transporters, filling station owners protest

Protest demonstration at Katchery Chowk was against the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations in the twin cities.

RAWALPINDI:

The owners and drivers of public transport vehicles backed by the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Monday staged a protest demonstration at Katchery Chowk against the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations in the twin cities.

The transporters chanted slogans against the government and the local administration while threatening to observe a complete transport shutdown in the twin cities if the government did not reverse its decision.

They termed the suspension of gas to CNG stations “the economic murder” of transporters and CNG station owners. The government has recently stopped gas supply to CNG stations for three months to ensure provision of gas to domestic consumers in the winter.

APCNGA Chairman Ghyas Paracha and dozens of other CNG station owners also participated in the protest.



The protesters also staged a sit-in at Katchery Chowk for more than one hour.  Due to the protest demonstration, heavy traffic jam was witnessed on roads adjacent to the Katchari Chowk. The protesters dispersed peacefully after Regional Transport Authority Secretary Awais Manzoor assured them that their issue would be resolved soon. He hinted that the government may allow the transporters to raise transport fares so that they can run their vehicles on petrol.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2013.