There is only one testing centre of the Hydrocarbon Development Institution of Pakistan (HDIP) in Karachi since 1993 for the inspection of CNG cylinders of about one million automobiles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Over 20,000 public transport vehicles, which have been converted to CNG during the last two years, are also included in this figure.
HDIP General Manager Mohammad Habibur Rehman told APP that around three or four CNG cylinder testing centres, managed by the private sector, would be opened in the main areas of city. “This would facilitate CNG vehicle owners to have their cylinders tested within their vicinity,” he added. “The HDIP would also open testing centres in other cities.”
Rehman said it takes around five or six days to examine a CNG cylinder at the HDIP testing centre. “This time will be reduced to one or two days after the more centres are opened in the city,” he added. “Their inspection staff will be provided training by HDIP experts for testing CNG kits and cylinders.”
Abrar Saleem, owner of a CNG kit-fitted car, said the HDIP should open testing centres in the main centres of the city to facilitate consumers.
“The testing centre is located far away and one has to take a day off from the office to drop the cylinder at the centre,” he added.
Rasheed Malik, who also owns a CNG kit-fitted car, said his cylinder is six years old, but he cannot get it tested for several reasons.
“I am in the sales business and work seven days a week and therefore cannot find the time to visit the HDIP testing centre in Korangi,” he added.
Besides, not a single CNG filling station has ever bothered to check the cylinder or refuse to fill the cylinder.”
The HDIP general manager confirmed that burnt, used and substandard cylinders were being used in public transport vehicles. “This should be stopped to save the lives of passengers using public transport,” he remarked.
Pakistan has emerged as one of the countries that have the largest number of CNG-powered vehicles.
By the mid of 2011, around three million CNG vehicles were on the roads of Pakistan, leaving behind Iran (1.96 million vehicles), which was previously ranked as number one in the world followed by Argentina (1.95 million) and Brazil (1.6 million vehicles).
Similarly, the number of filling stations has also crossed the 3,200 mark, but no proper network for the inspection of CNG kits and cylinders has been developed in the country. There are only three inspection centres for examining these vehicles, one each in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
