The government has decided to implement the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices across the country in light of the Supreme Court decision.
According to officials, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has also sent the interim order of the Supreme Court to all chief secretaries and asked them to ensure the sales of CNG at new prices.
After Eid holidays, a contempt of court petition would be filed against CNG stations that violate the court decision, sources said. Adviser to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain on Friday took notice of the non-implementation of the court order and directed OGRA to send inspection teams for ensuring operations of all closed down CNG stations. He said action would be taken against all CNG station owners who were not ready to sell CNG on new prices and also warned of cancelling their licence.
Following the Supreme Court order, the prices of CNG were slashed by Rs 30.90 per kilogram on Thursday and it was officially notified by OGRA. The new price of CNG would be Rs 61.64 in Region 1 that includes upper Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the new price of CNG in other parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces has been fixed at Rs 54.16 per kilogramme.
After the government’s decision, the All Pakistan CNG Association urged owners to sell gas at new prices immediately. APCNGA chairman Ghayyas Paracha said they would file a review petition in the Supreme Court on October 30, 2012. Talking to reporters, Paracha said they would implement the Supreme Court’s order, but the association would meet OGRA officials to convey their reservations in connection with the directives.
