The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Thursday rejected new schedule of 72 hours per month supply of natural gas to CNG outlets across Punjab terming it a conspiracy hatched to destroy the troubled sector.
A plan has been hatched to increase the profits of private power plants by providing them gas allocated to the CNG sector which will eventually eliminate the world’s largest Rs 450 billion industry, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak, Central Chairman of APCNGA.
Speaking at a press conference, he said the new schedule announced by SSGC was part of the plan that will be fought tooth and nail for survival of millions of families.
SVC of APCNGA Brig Iftikhar, Chairman Supreme Council, Ghiyas Paracha, Abid Hayat, Ch Salahuddin, Ashar Aleem and other leaders were also present on the occasion.
Pervaiz Khattak said they would never allow pushing millions below poverty line for the benefit of 80 influential families of Punjab as business for 72 hours in a month in which half of the hours are wasted in load shedding is nothing short of a cruel joke.
“If decision was not taken back and our demands were not met until 19th of July, we will have no option but to protest,” he warned.
He said that different departments had opposed patronage of private power plants and provision of gas to them on subsidised rated while the Supreme Court had issued judgement against these primitive plants but to no avail.
The then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his Dec 09 verdict clearly stated, “However, as far as captive power plants are concerned, the policy must be revised and without any justification they could be allowed supply of gas to produce electricity because they supply electricity at much higher than the NEPRA rate instead of subsidized rate to NTDC. Therefore, the supply of gas to captive power plants should be revised to a lower priority and not at a subsidized rate,” he informed.
Khattak said plots against CNG sector was enmity with the masses because it provide jobs to millions, 80 million people uses CNG converted vehicles for transportation while government earns billions in taxes from this sector.
The leader of the CNG sector said hundreds of CNG filling stations had been closed across the stretch of Punjab while many others are on the verge but it is not enough to draw the attention of policymakers.
Khattak said that if CNG stations were allowed to work from 4 am to 2 pm, it would resolve the main issue and the fasting people will face no problem.
