The government has decided to make violation of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) rules a non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years. This was decided in a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Rehman Malik to address the increasing number CNG cylinder accidents in the country. The meeting participants also decided to remove all substandard cylinders from sale outlets, while ordering the police to conduct raids and arrest those who defy the decision.
The government has also decided that no person under 18 years of age would be allowed to work at CNG stations, while supervisors would need a diploma to get employed at gas pumps. The meeting tasked OGRA with the training of CNG station supervisors. Additionally, motor vehicle examiners would not be able to issue vehicle fitness certificates, unless the vehicles were cleared by OGRA. The meeting also decided to ban the import of cylinders, while ordering all chief secretaries to close illegal CNG conversion workshops and to seize CNG cylinders at such locations. All public transporters using CNG will require third party insurance for the passengers, drivers and conductors, the meeting decided.
