LAHORE: All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) and Petroleum Dealers Association held a protest on Tuesday, demanding uninterrupted gas supply and restoration of lease and commission in petrol. The office bearers gathered at Liberty Chowk and condemned the gas closure for CNG stations. A large number of rickshaw and taxi driver also joined them saying their businesses have ruined because of CNG closure. The protestors, holding banners and placards demanding of the government to save them from unemployment, took out a rally and blocked the road.
Punjab APCNGA Chairman Fayyaz Gilani, APCNGA Vice Chairman Majid Ansari and APCNGA office bearers also participated in the rally. Addressing on the occasion, APCNGA Supreme Council Chairman Ghayas Abdullah Paracha said “CNG sector is the biggest taxpayer to the government and consumes only six percent of the gas but still it is not supplied enough gas. Government should end inequality with the CNG sector and provide it gas on regular basis.” He demanded the government to end gas load shedding for the CNG sector and give it immunity.
He said there were 2.5 million vehicles and wagons relied on CNG because of an increase in petrol and diesel prices. He said around 22,000 employees that worked in 2,000 CNG stations of Punjab will be unemployed if gas was not provided. “Our businesses will be ruined and we will go bankrupt,” he added. Paracha said petrol pumps’ commission should also be restored and current owners should be given priority in the lease process. He said if the government did not address the problems of the CNG sector then stations will be closed and, “We will stage a sit-in, in front of the parliament.”
