The government should step in and take measures with regards to the CNG loadshedding. In Punjab alone, some 2.5 million vehicles are being run on CNG. There are 2,000 CNG stations in Punjab contracting 22,000 workers and if this bucket-shedding was not stopped, the owners will not have means to pay back their bank loans and to keep on their staff which may lead to an increase in unemployment.
Citizens have been facing many problems as gas was not available at CNG stations in the city for two consecutive days a week.
As per the SNGPL schedule, bucket shedding of CNG on every Monday and Tuesday will take place in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Multan and Gujranwala, while in Faisalabad, Islamabad and Bahawalpur, CNG closure will take place on every Friday and Saturday.
In further to the two-day weekly bucket shedding, CNG stations have also perceived a notice from the SNGPL authorities per bucket shedding of CNG from 8am to 8pm during the superfluous 5 days of the week.
Earlier, on November 3, Lahore CNG station owners staged a protest on the call of the APCNGA because of the governments unfair policy for the CNG zone and the undue bucket shedding plan. Protests were staged on the Lower Mall and the protesters marched towards the Civil Secretariat and staged a sit-in for an hour in front of the Civil Secretariat building. But unfortunately the protest did not have the desired result. Negotiations have taken place lately between the government and CNG associations but to no avail.
One can only hope that the government will review its policy and not heap on further difficulties on an already suffering public.
SANA SULTAN
Faisalabad
