Sui Gas companies are conspiring to derail LNG import project :Raja Jahangir Akhtar

Lahore: Chief Organiser of Tehreek-e-Bahali-e-CNG Raja Jahangir Akhtar on Saturday said Sui Gas companies are conspiring to derail LNG import project on the behest of a powerful mafia comprising leading businessmen of country.

He said that gas worth Rs40 billion is stolen annually which has changed the fate of gas officials who now want to receive eleven percent share in LNG import in the name of line losses.

Speaking to a rally in Attock city, he said that masses have not accepted 11 percent UFG of SNGPL and they will never allow government to slap 11 percent LNG losses on masses.

He said that gas theft is a highly technical matter which cannot be completed without collusion of gas officials. The theft must be contained as energy crisis has broken the back of the economy, he added.

The veteran leader said that gas theft can be controlled within 24 hours if thieves are awarded life imprisonment while informers should be given protection as well as 50 percent of the recovered amount. He said that the CNG station owners who are found involved in the theft should be hanged publicly.

Jahangir Akhtar said that tycoons working as mafia in the boards of gas companies must be removed while the companies should be directed to announce the details of those involved in theft. He said that majority of CNG operator in Punjab have become psychopaths due to government policies and extortion by the gas officials.

Gas line losses are at one percent and even below than that in many countries but in Pakistan it stands at 11 percent while gas officials are trying to enhance it to 14 percent to relieve masses of billions which will not be tolerated. He said that elected government should also listen to the plight of CNG operators.

At the occasion CNG owners and transporters announced to protest tomorrow (Sunday) at Hassan Abdal while he CNG operators of Faisalabad have summoned a meeting to finalise protest plan.