Ogra becomes part of conspiracy against CNG sector: APCNGA

Lahore:  The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Thursday said Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has become part of a well-orchestrated conspiracy against CNG sector and it has issued illegal show cause notices to over 1000 CNG operators to get their stance for business on current location before cancellation of their licences.

Orga has started dancing on the tune of influential lobbies to destroy world’s No 1 CNG industry by violating its own rules and regulations, it said.

All the petrol pumps and CNG operators had taken NOC from twelve different departments under the policy of ministry of petroleum before commencing commercial operations.

These departments include Ogra, Explosives Department, Traffic Police, TMA, Environmental Protection Agency, electricity and gas distribution companies, district administration, national andprovincial highway authorities, and Civil Aviation Authority, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA.

Moreover all CNG operators have also ensured NOC from neighbours before establishing business, he said.

In a statement issued here today, he said that all the government agencies are responsible for it if supposedly any wrongdoing has taken place during the while process.

Similarly, Ghiyas Paracha said, all these departments would be responsible for harassing masses as well as investors who have invested around Rs 400 billion in the vibrant CNG sector.

He said that Ogra has allowed construction of all CNG outlets on their current locations but the regulator work up to the so called reality after 23 long years which is amazing. Why rest of thedepartments have not initiated any action so far if something is wrong about locations of CNG outlets, he questioned.

Paracha said that targeting CNG stations on the pretext of residential areas is a conspiracy as all the business in the residential areas are established on commercial patches after permission fromauthorities.

Shifting CNG outlets out of city is simply an unworkable idea which will add to the sufferings ofmasses, he said.

The leader of the CNG sector said that CNG sector lacks lobby in the corridors of power therefore it is held responsible for everything and harassed on one pretext or other.

He asked the Chief Justice Pakistan and the Prime Minister to take note of the situation as CNG operators have not violated any law.