by Azhar Bukhari
LAHORE: Like other parts of the country, the All Pakistan CNG Association strike on Wednesday added to the public woes, continuing to plague the residents of the provincial capital.
The association announced strike across the country from December 30 for indefinite period against the proposed gas price hike as well as the two-day weekly closure of the filling stations under load management.
Though partial strike was observed in the provincial capital, people had been facing numerous problems like absence of public transport, as hundreds were queued up outside the CNG filling stations, which continued the sale.
The commuters were facing great difficulties due to absence of transport due to strike call by All Pakistan CNG association.
Due to the strike call the transport remained off the roads creating great difficulties for commuters.
People in Punjab and NWFP are suffering great difficulties due to the situation. According to the sources, as many as 80 percent CNG filling stations in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Jehlum, Attock, Sheikhupora, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Multan and other areas of the country remained closed.
More than 1,800 CNG stations in Punjab were closed over APCNGA’s strike call, more than 2,800 CNG filling stations are closed under the strike call.
The government has already ordered to close CNG stations for two days in a week. Meanwhile gas supply is suspended to Pothohar region since last two days and now CNG stations in the region have also closed to contribute in countrywide strike while, gas supply to Attock and Jehlum has been suspended from Wednesday.
Talking to The Post, president of APCNGA, Ghayyas Paracha, said over 3,000 CNG filling stations across the country would remain closed as long as the strike is on.
Paracha demanded that the government should revive the difference in CNG and petrol prices according to the 1992 Petroleum Policy in which the price of CNG was set half of that of petrol. He maintained that gas load-shedding for CNG stations be stopped immediately if the federal government accepts their demands.
Paracha said it is the salaried class and others from middle-income groups that would suffer the most financially after the increase in CNG prices.
The APCNGA president accused some petrol dealers for having interests in importing LNG, LPG and other substitutes that may have a role to play in damaging the CNG business.
Ghayyas Paracha also suggested that the government should announce a 10-year gas policy after consulting the CNG association so that investors in this sector could plan their businesses accordingly.
Following the strike thin public traffic was present on the roads, unleashing problems for a large of citizens who were solely dependent on public transport or vehicles only on CNG for commuting.
