The Punjab government has assured resolution of all outstanding problems of the CNG industry including inequitable distribution of gas and misuse of natural gas.
The assurance came in a meeting held on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting was chaired by MNA Pervaiz Malik while Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Abid Hayat, Captain (retd) Shuja, Fayaz Gillani,Anjum Niaz and Ashar Haleem represented all Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA), says a press issued by APCNGA here on Sunday.
MNA Pervaiz Malik assured all-out support to the representatives of the CNG sector. He said that the government will not allow anyone to hurt any business and that it would provide a level playing field to all.
During the meeting, the leaders of the CNG sector pointed out elements involved in theft, misuse and unauthorized use of natural gas. They said that those who wanted to generate electricity through gas should have separate meters for it. Ghiyas Paracha said that CNG sector is being destroyed due to unjust gas distribution, extended loadshedding and violation of rules and regulations by different departments. He said that gas sale agreements had openly been violated knowing the CNG industry had no alternative.
He said that situation is horrible in Punjab where owners of 2200 CNG filling stations are at the brink and in urgent need of oxygen to resuscitate.
Paracha said that transport authorities have been harassing two million vehicle owners that include eight hundred thousand public transport vehicles on one pretext or other which should be stopped. Demanding announcement of 10-year CNG policy, he said that government should include CNG operators in the process of LNG import or help it to import it to settle the energy crisis.
