APCNGA rejects new schedule of 72 hours per month supply of natural gas to CNG outlets

Lahore:  The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Thursday rejected new schedule of 72 hours per month supply of natural gas to CNG outlets across Punjab terming it a conspiracy hatched to destroy the troubled sector.

A plan has been hatched to increase the profits of private power plants by providing them gas allocated to the CNG sector which will eventually eliminate the world’s largest Rs 450 billion industry, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak, Central Chairman of APCNGA.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that the new schedule announced by SSGC is part of the unholy plan that will be fought tooth and nail for survival of millions of families.

SVC of APCNGA Brig. Iftikhar, Chairman Supreme Council Ghiyas Paracha, Abid Hayat, Ch. Salahuddin, Ashar Aleem and other leaders were also present on the occasion.

Pervaiz Khattak said that we would never allow pushing million beyond poverty line for the benefit of 80 influential families of Punjab as business for 72 hours in a month in which half of the hours are wasted in loadshedidng is nothing short of a cruel joke.

“If decision was not taken back and our demands were not met until 10^th of July, we will have no option but to protest,” he warned.

He said that different departments have opposed patronage of private power plants and provision of gas to them on subsidised rated while Supreme Court has issued judgement against these primitive plants but to no avail.

The then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his Dec 09 verdict clearly stated, “However, as far as captive power plants are concerned, the policy must be revised and without any justification they cannot be allowed supply of gas to produce electricity because they supply electricity at much higher than the NEPRA rate instead of subsidized rate to NTDC. Therefore, the supply of gas to captive power plants should be revised to a lower priority and not at a subsidized rate,” he informed.

Khattak said plots against CNG sector is enmity with the masses because it provide jobs to millions, 80 million people uses CNG converted vehicles for transportation while government ears billions in taxes from this sector.

It is amazing that the sector paying highest taxes and tariff is deprived of natural gas which is being diverted to those addicted to subsidised gas despite the fact that all the sectors excluding CNG have alternatives to gas available.

Electricity tariff, taxes and price of all inputs is being increased frequently while pressure has been reduced intentionally to destroy this sector, he lamented.

Tax burden is being increased on the sector deprived of gas while the taxes on the sectors which are getting gas are being decreased which is amazing, he noted.

The leader of the CNG sector said that hundreds of CNG filling stations have been closed across the stretch of Punjab while thousands are on the verge but it is not enough to draw the attention of policymakers.

Khattak said that if CNG stations are allowed to work from 4 am to 2 pm, it will resolve the main issue and the masses will fasting people will face no problem.

Incumbent ministers should fulfil their promises, he demanded.