Reasons behind MD SSGC’s sudden resignation needs probe

Islamabad: he Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said energy establishment has been inflicting great miseries upon masses.

Energy policies have resulted in sluggish growth and the current CNG crisis which has very serious social and economic implications, it said.

Situation will improve if a major reshuffle in energy related department is undertaken as the Supreme Court has proved incompetence of petroleum ministry and Ogra by rejecting their reports, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.He said that some elements have planned to reap benefits while keeping whole nation focused on the on-going crisis.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal opined that Competition Commission’s raid on the office of CNG association seems politically motivated at a time when the later was disagreeing with the government on prices and Supreme Court is hearing the case.He asked the Petroleum advisor to take immediate action against the CNG filling stations involved in gas theft with the names of departments and officials involved being made public.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that masses must know why an action was delayed against CNG operators stealing gas and how many of such CNG outlets are owned by ministers, Senators and politicians related to ruling coalition.Masses also deserve to know about the gas being stolen by influential sectors, he said.Efforts to replace CNG with costly LPG is a pipedream as the later isn’t only one per cent of our energy mix, he said adding that reasons behind sudden resignation of MD SSGC Azim Iqbal Siddiqui who belonged to a rare breed of honest officials needs to be probed.

Ban on import of CNG cylinders and kits was also part of the plan to introduce LPG in transport sector compromising interests of masses and country, he observed.

Earlier government use to convert power stations on furnace oil during winter while the supply to textile sector was also reduced but now situation is otherwise.

Natural gas which is satisfying fifty per cent energy requirements of the country is not as short as portrayed to justify wrongdoings, said Dr. Mughal.