APCNGA demands gas price, cost audit by int’l firm?

Islamabad: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Wednesday demanded forensic audit of gas cost and production cost of the CNG filling stations by some internationally reputed audit firm.

The non-serious and non-professional attitude of some officials in the petroleum ministry and OGRA is destroying the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) industry in which masses have invested around Rs 400 billion, it said.

The controversial decisions will hurt millions of people but authorities seem unconcerned about plight of masses, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA.

OGRA has rejected reports of its own staff while the reports of independent auditors have been overruled which has prolonged the current crisis adding to the miseries of the masses, he said.

Ghiyas Paracha said that CNG stakeholders cannot trust judgement of bureaucrats who have pushed country into never-ending energy crisis with no relief in sight.

Babucracy is unaware of the ground realities and not bothered about anything therefore we will never accept their unilateral decisions, he said.

He said that CNG operators have invested some Rs 260 billion while the owners of 3.7 million vehicles converted on CNG have spent Rs 104 billion on cylinders and kits which cannot be left on the mercy of some officials working with questionable credentials.

So far, the CNG owners have suffered losses to the tune of Rs 4 billion in last 53 days while the government has lost revenue around Rs 12 billon. Daily loss of former stands at Rs 8 crore per day while later is facing loss of Rs 23 crore per day, he informed.

Paracha said that scarcity of CNG has pushed up oil import bill which is a reason behind sliding rupee versus US dollar which is a great threat to the economy.

He said that one thousand small CNG stations will shut operations in few days due to losses while the problems of masses are being deepened by the every passing day but those who matter seems unconcerned.

Government is forcing masses and CNG operators to take to streets to resolve the outstanding issue, he warned.