The dealers of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) declared an end to their strike on Friday on the government’s assurance; however, confusion persisted over the sale of fuel, as consumers across Sindh continue to suffer.
The dealers and OGRA have locked horns over switching the sale of CNG from kilogrammes to litres.
All the CNG dealers associations had earlier unanimously decided to switch the sale of CNG from kilogrammes to litres as is done in Punjab, saying that it would help when they sell LNG instead of CNG very soon.
But after concerns from consumers that it would increase the cost of this relatively cheaper fuel, they said they had been rudely ordered by the OGRA officials to take back their decision, which they said they would not do. Taking a stand on the issue, all the associations went on an “indefinite strike”.
In Karachi, most of the filling stations have been closed while some company pumps that also sell petrol and diesel kept their doors open for consumers, but had to contend with long queues of vehicles.
The queues of public transport vehicles, mostly rickhaws and taxis, with an occasional pick-up or public bus created a traffic mess on the roads.
CNG Dealers Association Chairman Abdul Sami Khan addressed a press conference on Friday and announced that the dealers have decided to call off their strike on government’s assurances.
“The petroleum minister has assured us to resolve the issue within 15 days, so we are ending this strike, but CNG will be sold in kilogrammes in Sindh until written orders from OGRA,” he said.
“We can’t do anything if some filling stations sold it in litres,” he said, adding that switching of CNG from kilogrammes to litres ‘will take time’.
