PESHAWAR – Following the call of All Pakistan CNG Association, almost all the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained closed on Saturday, which caused numerous difficulties for commuters and transporters as traffic mostly remained suspended.

The big and small vehicles running on CNG at different routs of the provincial metropolis were observed overcrowded due to lack of transport on the roads because of CNG stations strike. Although some of the transporters having the facility opted to fill their tanks with costlier fuel petrol, but those option-less transports were compelled to park their vehicles. It was also proved a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the transports who were charging commuters almost double, without any fear of doing any illegal act as the relevant authorities concerned were even did not aware of the situation.
The CNG Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter a week earlier had given a call for complete strike in protest against the government for time and again increase in CNG prices. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa there are about 596 CNG stations, in which 190 are in the provincial metropolis, where CNG filling stations were completely halted supply in early morning time, but later on it was observed that some of the stations started filling.
The Association provincial Chairman Pervez Khattak was of the view that imposition of new taxes in the shape of ‘cess’ upon CNG industry was quite injustice with the masses and at large with all those attached with the industry. He added that CNG industry was one of the profitable industry in the country, which despite the economic crisis in the country remained stable and profit earning to some extent. He alleged that despite the fact the government and especially the Ministry of Petroleum has bent upon to weaken the sole industry in the country for his personal grudges.
“People are not to bear to buy Rs 100 per kilogram CNG as they were already pressed by raised gas and power prices in the country, Mr Khattak said, adding that the CNG association to decry any government decision which might resort to bring increase in CNG prices and would resisted it through strikes and protest till indefinite time.
He alleged that the government was increasing prices of CNG to bring it at par with petrol prices rather increasing it more than the latter that would negatively cost the importance of CNG as a cheap fuel. He further said that at times there was artificial scarcity of natural gas created in the country and CNG industry was held responsible for the same by government, though the latter only consume 8 percent of the total natural gas production in the country.
Khattak also alleged that the petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, who has his own business of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas in the country, was after destruction of CNG industry by playing major role in increasing prices of CNG. It is because he want to see flourish his own business at the cost of CNG industry, he added.
The Association provincial chairman Khattak asked the government to stop anti-masses decision and revise the decision of making increase in CNG prices, otherwise, warned to come more harden if their demand was not met.