The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) has urged the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to take independent decisions to determine a new price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in order to provide relief to the masses. He said that OGRA must set aside the pressure of influential CNG association cartel and should take independent decision to fix new CNG price. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, President Pakistan Economy Watch Dr.Murtaza Mughal said CNG cartel had minted billion of rupees from the consumers and therefore now it was reluctant to sell gas at lower rates. “State owned gas companies should take over the CNG stations if CNG owners are not ready to sell gas at low rates to provide relief to the consumers,” he said adding that Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) should also take action of CNG cartel that had deprived the consumers of CNG by secret call of strike to CNG station owners to shut down outlets. He said CNG station owners have been seen to repeatedly ignore the apex court directions to sell gas at low rates which has deprived the customers of any relief. He, however, said that OGRA should take into account all valid suggestions of the stakeholders to settle on a new price formula of CNG as per the directions of apex court. “The decision of OGRA to solicit public opinion to determine the prices of CNG for which held public hearing in three major cities of the country including Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi is highly significant,”Dr. Murtaza added.
