Crisis calling as CNG station owners continue closure

With the government machinery looking helpless after failing to get the CNG stations opened, a crisis has emerged with most of the CNG station owners continuing their unannounced strike against the forcible decrease in prices by the government.
It appears that neither the ministry nor OGRA and the SNGPL were perturbed over the difficulties that the commuters faced. Commenting on the situation, civil society representatives said it seemed that state had lost its writ as far as the CNG stations and oil mafia was concerned.
Long queues of vehicles were seen at the few CNG stations that offered services. People travelled from one corner of the city to the other in search of fuel, but had to wait for hours for their turn.
The motorists also complained of very low gas pressure. The consumers criticised the CNG stations owners for creating problems for them, adding that the CNG station owners were fleecing the consumers by making huge profits. They also blamed the All Pakistan CNG Association for the strike, saying gas filling stations were enjoying its support. In Karachi, most of the CNG stations remained closed even on Monday, as the travellers, commuters and motorists were seen waiting in long queues on roads adjacent to the few operational filling stations, while the fortunate few who got their tanks filled complained of being cheated through the mysteriously low gas pressure.
Public transport remained thin on the roads as vehicles could not be refuelled. Office-goers, labourers and students continue facing problems due to a lack of transport in the city, as well as at inter-city routes.
There were complaints that transporters were overcharging commuters in the name of closure of CNG stations. On the other hand, commuters complained that transporters were already charging excess amount as they were using CNG at cheaper rates. Meanwhile, CNG Dealers’ Association Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said CNG stations were being re-opened for three to four days in view of the difficulties of the people and cautioned that if the government did not concede to their demand of fixing the right price, the CNG station could go for a closure again.
He further said they would ask for compensation from the government for selling CNG at a loss during this period.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain told a private news channel that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) would decide the prices of petroleum products on Tuesday. In an attempt to show he was alive to the situation, Hussain paid a surprise visit to SNGPL’s office in Islamabad.
Ignoring the wider issue of CNG station closure, he ordered action over complaints of excess billing against the company.
The adviser reprimanded the SNGPL Islamabad general manager and also suspended Chief Engineer Naseer Feroze.
Talking to reporters after the visit, he said a summary of petroleum prices had been forwarded to the ECC which would, after analysis, decide how often should petroleum prices be revised.
He said the ministry had given three proposals to the ECC of adjusting prices on weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
Contrary to his earlier statements that CNG use in vehicles was wastage of the precious energy source, he said he was supportive of the view that the CNG should be provided to the public transport on priority basis.