Public transporters threaten to go on strike if govt does not take back decision to stop CNG supply to CNG stations and industries of Punjab and Islamabad from Nov 15 to March 15
Public transporters in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have warned to go on strike if the government does not retract its decision to shut down CNG supply for four months, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Office bearers of transport unions criticised the government’s decision during a meeting held in connection with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources’ recent decision to stop CNG supply to the transport sector in Punjab and Potohar Regions for the next four months. The transporters constituted two committees to meet the Capital City Administration and transport authorities in the Federal Capital and Rawalpindi to press for their demand.
According to government sources natural gas would not be provided to the CNG stations and other industries in the Punjab and Islamabad from November 15 to March 15.
Although, the government has made this decision to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to the domestic consumers, and has given approval for gas load management plan for the winter season, however, gas supply to the CNG stations and industries will continue in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as usual.
Sources revealed that a meeting with regard to gas load management held by Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decided that in winter season the demand for gas by domestic consumers would increase, thus, it would not be possible to provide gas to the CNG sector as well as power sector.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Islamabad Union of Transporters (IUT) General Secretary Baba Kiyani expressed his resentment over the Petroleum Ministry’s decision and said that almost 100 percent of public transport in Islamabad uses CNG as fuel.
The current fares schedule has been approved on the basis of price of CNG and in the absence of CNG, said the official, either the transporters will have to increase the fares or withdraw their transport from the roads.
“We cooperated with the authorities when they asked us to decrease the fares by seven percent as a goodwill gesture to the public but now that the government has stopped CNG supply, it has become impossible for us to run our business on the current decided fares,” said Kiyani.
“We will meet the authorities to discuss the matter but if they do not pay heed to our legitimate demands, we will have no option left but to go on strike until either the CNG supply resumes or petrol prices are reduced to Rs 80 per liter,” said Kiani.
On the other hand, taxi drivers of Islamabad have also expressed dismay over the government’s decision to stop CNG supply and demanded the retraction of the decision.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Kamal Khan, a taxi driver in F-10 Markaz said that he was facing a sharp decline in his daily income due to non-availability of CNG as he had to use petrol instead of CNG as fuel for his vehicle.
“I do not mind if the government increases the price of CNG by another 10 to 15 rupees as long as it assures uninterrupted CNG supply,” said the cab driver, adding that running his taxi on petrol would considerably decrease his income.
“Even after the recent dip in petrol prices, CNG is the more economical as a fuel than petrol,” he said.
Meanwhile, All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has also rejected the closure of CNG supply, terming it a big blow to their already dwindling business.
Condemning the decision, APCNGA Central Chairman Pervaiz Khan Khattak said, “This is a highly flawed decision of the government. It will hurt many people across the country, leave thousands jobless and cause environmental degradation at an unprecedented pace.”
He said that the implementation of illegal gas load management plan would boost oil import bill, bring currency under renewed pressure and further affect trade balance while the government would lose billions in taxes.
He said gas utilities, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the government must turn away from the negative and unpopular policies.
“The so-called business-friendly government has shocked the masses and entire CNG community by deciding to close the sector for four months”, he maintained.
Residents of the twin cities complain that due to stoppage of CNG supply, majority of public transport has disappeared from the roads whereas cab drivers are charging fares of their choice by stating that they have to use petrol which is more costly than CNG.
Due to stoppage of natural gas to the CNG filling stations and industries, thousands of poor people, working on the CNG stations and industries have also lost their jobs.
However, talking to Pakistan Today, an Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) official said that the authority would deal with the situation in the larger interest of the masses and would not be cowed down by the threats of transporters.