CNG business being destroyed on pretext of upkeep of gas fields:Ghiyas Paracha

Lahore: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Saturday rejected the gas load management schedule saying that continuous closure of CNG stations in Punjab is not acceptable under any circumstances.

Closure of CNG stations on the pretext of annual maintenance of gas fields is intolerable as it has added to the problems of CNG operators and miseries of the masses, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, leader of APCNGA.

In a statement issued here today, he said that masses were deprived of affordable fuel during Eid and now owners of seven lakh vehicles in Punjab has parked their vehicles unless they can get CNG leaving many sectors unserviceable.

Ghiyas Paracha said that closure of CNG stations have affected millions of jobs, thousands of CNG operators while drivers of taxis, rickshaws and wagons have increased fares.

He said that CNG is the only business in the world which is not allowed to operate for more than two days in a week and now lasting closure has left CNG operators unable to pay bills and salaries.

Machines installed at CNG filling stations require a lot of efforts to start work after long delays and that CNG industry has no alternative to natural gas therefore all the CNG stations should be allowed to begin operations and they should be compensated for losses.

He said that depriving Punjab’s CNG industry of gas is highly unfortunate and if demands were not met immediately, APCNGA will be left with no option but to launch protests.

ENDS.