The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Sunday rejected the decision of SNGPL to close CNG stations across Punjab on the pretext of excessive load on the system.
The unilateral decision will hurt the interests of millions of masses and thousands of CNG filling stations owners, therefore, it could not be accepted under any circumstances, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak, Central Chairman APCNGA.
In a statement issued on Sunday, he said closure of CNG stations throughout Punjab on Nov 10 in the garb of load on system was unacceptable as there is no city in the province facing biting cold. The unilateral and flawed decision will add to the problems of CNG operators and miseries of the masses, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak.
He said some of the government and business circles could not tolerate CNG sector even if it was running for two days a week. The SNGPL had deprived masses of affordable fuel many times in recent days and now the department had repeated the decision without taking stakeholders on board which was unfortunate, he added.
Pervaiz Khattak said the closure of CNG stations would affect millions of jobs, thousands of CNG operators while drivers of taxis, rickshaws and wagons would also increase their fares.
He said the CNG was the only business in the world which was not allowed to operate for more than two days in a week and it was being strangulated which had left them with no option but to take a strict action.
He said depriving Punjab’s CNG industry of gas was highly unfortunate, therefore, the CNG operators facing the wrath of SNGPL should be immediately compensated against the wastage of business days.