With the government and All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) locking horns over the issue of closure of CNG stations and hike in CNG prices, consumers across the country have been left high and dry, with everyone, from school-going children to daily inter-city commuters, suffering one way or the other due to the spiralling crisis.
As if the people already had little to worry about, the APCNGA on Sunday announced to extend the strike for an indefinite period unless the government withdrew the increase in CNG prices and the decision to stop filling CNG in commercial vehicles. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the president of the association, Ghyas Paracha, said the government’s decision was unjustified and a bid to divide consumers and the CNG sector. He said the government was planning to promote LPG and LNG over CNG in the country to benefit a few blue-eyed people. Paracha said a complete strike was being observed across the country and only a few stations owned by Shell, Caltex and other oil marketing companies were providing services.
The APCNGA chairman alleged that the petroleum minister was misleading the nation and was paving the way for the promotion of LPG and LNG in the country. He said not a single incident of gas cylinder blast in vehicles had occurred. He said the APCNGA’s decision to go on strike would provide relief to the public.
However, Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain rejected the demands and claims of the APCNGA, saying price was settled after consultation with the association. On the other hand, APCNGA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Pervez Khattak said CNG stations across the province had decided to respond to APCNGA’s strike call and around 600 stations in the province would close down by Sunday midnight. The Multan Wagon Owners’ Association has also announced an indefinite strike against the government’s decision to stop providing gas to commercial passenger vehicles.
