The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Tuesday said no incidence of CNG cylinder blast ever took place in the country.
They said that because CNG supplies were limited, drivers were compelled to resort to using alternate fuels in an unsafe manner, which led to accidents. Ensuring uninterrupted CNG supply to consumers would put such incidents to an end.
Further, there is no law in Pakistan banning the fixing of CNG cylinders below seats, said APCNGA Supreme Council Chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha.
He said that laws ensuring quality fitting of CNG kits were there and APCNGA has been acting on its plan to ensure international level safety standards but the pace is not satisfactory due to governmental mismanagement.
Ghiyas Paracha said that the transport sector is being closed on the pretext of the Gujrat incident despite the fact that reports of provincial departments, police, district administrations, Pakistan Hydrocarbon Development Institute and Ogra clearly indicate that no approved cylinder has ever blown up.
Different departments are blaming others for their incompetence while those who invested heavily in CNG and transport sector are suffering.
The CNG sector’s spokesman said that they have invested millions of rupees over the last ten years for developing a state-of-the-art checking system but the government has not been supportive of its execution.
Similarly, he said that they have provided Rs 20 million to the government to create awareness among the masses about CNG safety but to no avail.
APCNGA can check and ensure international safety standards in all commercial vehicles within six months only if the government departments cooperated, he claimed.