Ogra accepts discrepancy in gas bills,claims Ghiyas Paracha

LAHORE:The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Tuesday said that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has accepted discrepancy in gas bills of the CNG filling stations and assures its resolution by Dec 13th.

This development came in a meeting between delegation of all CNG associations led by Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA and Ogra officials here today
The meeting took place on the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan during which CNG operators said that gas distribution companies were getting inflated price of gas since last three years in violation of rules and regulations.
Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha told the officials that CNG and petrol pump business are entirely different as far as the expanses and other technicalities are concerned.
Major investment in petrol pumps is made by Oil Marketing Companies while the operators get commission, on the other hand CNG station owners invest entire amount by themselves, he said.
Paracha also demanded uniform gas rates and similar taxation on all the sectors on which Ogra officials said that it is privilege of the federal government. However, they assured to take the matter to the concerned quarters.
Negotiators from both sides could not agree on diesel power generation cost which has become a compulsory expense due to frequent power outages.
They said that if diesel power generation is not included in production cost, it will result in non-availability of CNG to consumers during four days when CNG stations are operational.
The CNG owners demanded physical audit of CNG stations to verify the actual gas cost in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Hazara and Balochistan to verify facts.
The CNG owners said that just profit is their right which must be considered according to international and national accounting practices.
In the end, the CNG operators thanked Ogra officials for patient hearing and hoped that all outstanding issues would be resolved soon so that masses can get a sigh of relief