The recent blasts in vehicles which have resulted in the loss of precious lives due to poor quality and uncertified CNG cylinders have compelled me to pen down few lines on a matter of immense concern. Increased prices of petrol & diesel had forced commuters in general and commercial commuters in particular to convert their vehicles to CNG.
In order to save money buses have installed oxygen and carbondioxide cylinders which are significantly cheaper but cannot withstand the pressure to sustain, hence are potential bombs roaming freely. Hundreds of people have been killed in CNG cylinder blasts countrywide during the last few years.
The government has miserably failed to keep a check regarding low quality CNG cylinders installed in vehicles risking the lives and property of people. This sub-standard CNG cylinder especially in public transport has been killing people and the authorities concerned are paying no heed to a matter of serious concern. The government has to immediately devise measures and take strict action to prevent such vehicles coming to the road. I would suggest people to remove gas cylinders from the vehicles that they own and switch them to safer fuels like petrol and diesel particularly after the sharp decrease in fuel prices.
According to the Pakistan CNG Rules 1992, CNG cylinder installed in vehicles should be tested or replaced after 5 years. Testing of CNG cylinders is mainly carried out by the Hydrocarbon Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) at the HDIP testing lab by charging Rs550. Since the charges are not too high for one to invest, I request all readers to get their CNG cylinders in vehicles tested and disseminate the importance of testing to others also.
MUHAMMED ZAFIR ZIA
Karachi
