The government of Punjab has assured to resolve all outstanding problems of the CNG industry including the inequitable distribution of gas, misuse of natural gas and violation of laws by different departments.
The assurance came in a meeting held on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting was chaired by MNA Pervaiz Malik and attended by Energy Minister Chaudhary Sher Ali, the energy secretary and other officials.
All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) was represented by Ghiyas Paracha, Abid Hayat, Captn (r) Shuja, Fayaz Gillani, Anjum Niaz and Ashar Haleem.
During the meeting, the leaders of the CNG sector pointed towards elements involved in the theft, misuse and unauthorised use of natural gas. They said that those wanting to generate electricity through gas should have separate meters for it.
Paracha said that the CNG sector was being destroyed due to the unjust gas distribution, extended load shedding and the violation of rules and regulations by different departments.
He said that gas sale agreements had been openly violated knowing that the CNG industry has no alternative. He said the situation in Punjab was horrible where owners of 2,200 CNG filling stations were on the brink of collapse and needed to be attended urgently.
Paracha said that the transport authorities had been harassing two million vehicle owners including 800,000 public transport vehicles on one pretext or other which needed to be stopped.
Demanding announcement of a 10-year CNG policy, he said that the government should include CNG operators in the process of LNG import or help them import it to manage the energy crisis.
MNA Malik assured all out support to the representatives of the CNG sector saying that government would not allow anyone to hurt any business and that it would provide level playing field to all.