APCNGA holds govt responsible for energy crisis
The APCNGA says Wednesday lust of government and mismanagement of OGRA are behind the crisis of CNG.
ISLAMABAD:-The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) said on Wednesday the greed of the government and mismanagement as well as stubborn attitude of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is responsible for crisis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the country.
Supreme Court has directed to reduce price of gas and cut taxes for CNG sector so that prices could be brought down by Rs 20 per kg but OGRA reduced price by Rs 31 per kg which contributed to bankruptcy of many CNG owners and paved the way for crisis that hindered everyday transport across the country, it said.
We are facing unbearable losses since 34 days while the gas and electricity connections of many filling stations have been disconnected owing to inability of owners to pay utility bills, said Central Chairman of APCNGA Muhammad Abid Hayat in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
It is impossible for station owners to sell gas at the current rates and meet stations’ operational costs, he added.
He said that government was not ready to compromise on its profit while it has shifted the entire burden to CNG sector that are bound to face a well-orchestrated conspiracy.
Certain influential quarters want friction between CNG sector and masses to eventually force people to buy costly imported fossil fuel, said Abid Hayat.
He said that this conspiracy aimed to benefit many including influential liquid gas mafia, powerful oil mafia and those who want additional imports of petrol worth billions to secure their commission at the cost of country, masses and economy.
He said that CNG sector always has been resisting upward revision in prices; it has protested such moves, called strikes and faced jails. He added that during current year strikes, CNG station owners stood supported public cause against price hike.
Central Chairman of APCNGA Muhammad Abid Hayat further said that the Chief Justice Pakistan Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry recently took note of hike in the price of CNG and issued directives that were welcomed by all in country. However, government taking advantage of the situation created confusion to meet its own objectives which will never be accepted.
He said that the APCNGA wanted to sell CNG on economical rates but it was impossible them to run businesses with loss.
He suggested that government should introduce uniform gas price and taxation to bring crisis to an end.
He said that three practical options to rationalise pricing have already been forwarded to authorities but in vain.
The APCNGA demanded an immediate and public-friendly and resolution-oriented decision to avoid closure of businesses and bring situation to normal.
