ISLAMABAD - The import of petroleum products has increased by up to 113 percent in one month in the wake of the Governments policy to curtail CNG consumption through the Gas Load Management Plan for the winter season. According to the data, the country has imported petroleum products worth $861 million in the month of December against $702 million in November 2009, showing an increase of 113 percent. While in December 2008, the country imported petroleum products of only $404 million, which is almost half of the imports in December 2009. As the Government has devised a Gas Load Management Plan under which gas supply to CNG stations is halted for two days a week. Due to the said plan, demand for petroleum products has increased in the country, which has resulted in the increase in import of petroleum products. Sources informed TheNation that import has increased due to surge in demand for petroleum products from the last one month mainly due to the Governments plan. As CNG is not supplied two days a week, people are compelled to run their vehicles on petrol, the sources added. The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd. started execution of a Gas Load Management Plan from the month of December, which curtailed supply to the CNG stations for two days on a rotational basis in all its eight regions. It is worth mentioning here that the Government has tried to eliminate the demand of CNG in order to properly supply gas to domestic consumers during the winter season. Due to CNG shortfall this year, the oil marketing companies would increase import of petrol. The short CNG supply has led to increase of petrol consumption in rural as well as urban areas, said a petrol station owner. He added that the overall increase in petrol sales has been witnessed due to rise in the number of vehicles and constant rush at the CNG stations. Sources in the All Pakistan CNG Stations talking to TheNation said the Government should depend on its available resources instead of importing petroleum products by spending millions of dollars. The Gas Load Management Plan did not save enough gas, but increased the countrys import bill, he added.