Ogra asked to announced interim CNG prices

Lahore: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Saturday asked Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to announce interim CNG sale price to save CNG filling station owners from insolvency.

Interim prices will help Ogra take time to review audit reports of 3400 CNG outlets to know average cost etc. and take appropriate decision, it said.

As per the directions of the Apex Court, the new formula should be made acceptable to all the stakeholders and masses by imposing similar gas tariff and uniform GIDC, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA.

In a statement issued here today, he said that masses as well as owners of the CNG stations are facing miseries since two months while authorities remain indifferent.

Despite directives, the subcommittee of the Economic Coordination Council and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources hasn’t started consultation with the stakeholders which indicates their unsympathetic behaviour, Paracha regretted.

He said that unjustified delay in CNG pricing decision will not only add the miseries of the masses but ruin CNG sector which in turn will result in nationwide wheel jam.

Masses are paying diverse taxes for CNG in different regions, they are made to pay Rs 13.25 in Region I while they pay Rs 9.18 in Region II which is discrimination, he informed adding that the difference of Rs 4.70 should end now.

Ghiyas Paracha said that move to link CNG prices with petrol will be steep violation of ruling of the Supreme Court.

He called upon those who matter to fix responsibility on those directly responsible for prolonging the current crisis.