Consumers and owners of CNG stations have severely criticised the Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry for planning a four-day closure every week for CNG stations.
They said the increase in the price of gas coupled with the four-day closure would severely cripple their activities. The ministry has announced the closure of Qadirpure Gas fields for annual repairs which would cause severe shortage of gas for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL).
All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Supreme Council Chairman Ghiyas Paracha said the increase in tariff of CNG had made this environment-friendly fuel unfeasible for vehicle use. The price hike and closure would collapse the CNG sector, causing unemployment at a large scale.
Paracha said discrimination in gas distribution was aimed at troubling millions of CNG consumers. He said the CNG sector demands an end to gas closure as there is no significant gap between demand and supply during the summer months, adding that millions of people have to stand in queues at CNG stations.