LAHORE: CNG could not be found in most areas of Lahore on Sunday, as CNG stations were closed owing to low gas pressures. A large number of motorists were seen roaming from one CNG station to another and the commodity was not even available in Johar Town, a known hub of CNG stations, Garden Town, Model Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Faisal Town, Muslim Town, Canal View, Gulberg, Shadman and Mughalpura.
Stations selling CNG had long car queues lined up, as commuters rushed to fill their vehicles. Rickshaw drivers complained that they could not find CNG to run rickshaws. Rickshaw driver Rashid Masih said, “How can I earn a living when there is no gas in the city? I got a rickshaw from the government scheme to earn respectfully but on Tuesdays and days like this, the rickshaw becomes useless for me”, he added.
WAPDA Town resident Asfand Rehman said that the gas situation was hilarious. Defence Housing Authority (DHA) resident Zain Mehmood Butt said that a motorist needed at least an hour to fill his car, as there was only one CNG station in the DHA and hundreds of vehicles were stuck in slow moving lines waiting to get refilled. Separately, the All Pakistan CNG Association, petroleum dealers and retailers staged a rally at the Johar Town against gas load shedding.
They warned that a strike would be observed on Monday across the city if the government did not solve the problems being faced by gas dealers and commuters. The dealers said that if the problem was dragged on further, they would close all petrol pumps of Islamabad as well. They demanded a smooth CNG flow to all sectors otherwise further protests and strikes would be organised.
