KARACHI - Sindh government has opposed the idea of the rationing of fuel as it could disrupt supply-line and create a cartel of dealers, The Nation learnt on Thursday. The Sindh government made this suggestion to federal government in a meeting regarding CNG Bus Project which was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary of Planning & Development, Department of Sindh government in Karachi. A senior official confirmed that the Planning and Development Department of Sindh government urged the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources to move a Summary to Prime Minister, requesting him to discourage the proposal of rationing of fuel. Officials said the Sindh government approached the federal government following a decision taken in a meeting which was also attended by the senior officials of the federal government namely Muhammad Umar Barakzai, Deputy General Manager, Engineering Development Board-RDK of federal government, Arsalan Vardag, Senior Advisor Projects, Infrastructure Project Development of federal government Facilities, Rasheed Alam, Secretary Transport Sindh, Aurangzeb Haque and others. Official said the environment friendly CNG Bus Project had to be started from the outset of the current fiscal 2008-09 in Karachi, but it was delayed due to various reasons. On the directives of centre, the Sindh government formed a Technical committee aimed at gearing up the implementation of the Project on fast track basis in the greater interest of the city commuters initially in Karachi. The CNG Bus Project would also be replicated to other 8 major cities of the country including Hyderabad, Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. Meanwhile, the Technical Committee was formed for evaluation of the proposals/credentials for short listing of the Investors, Operators and suppliers/Manufacturers of the CNG Bus Project. So far, four operators / investors and fifteen suppliers/manufacturers have shown their interest for investment in CNG Bus Project and submitted their credentials, official said, adding that foreigners also showed willingness in the project. The meeting discussed the various aspects of Project Implementation Program and its dynamics including screening of the credentials received, evaluation criteria, balancing between CBU/CKD bus induction policy, after sale back up including service centre and availability of spare-parts, CNG fueling stations and government's policy for grant of licensing to CNG fuelling station operators. While a Sub-Committee was also formed consisting members of federal government Syed Tanveer Hussain Bukhari, Chief T&C, Planning Development Division Arsalan Verdag, Senior Advisor IPDF, Ministry of Finance Aurangzeb Haq, Chief Economist government of Sindh Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, DG KMTC of City District Government Karachi. The committee would accomplish its task within 15 days and submit the report with federal government. The Sub-Committee would undertake the initial screening of the credentials of Operators/Investors and Suppliers/Manufacturers and prepare the evaluation criteria for CNG Bus Project, official said and added the sub-Committee would also prepare Draft Request for Statement of Qualification (RSOQ) document to be extended to the firms/ companies who have showed their interest. The meeting assigned a task to Karachi Mass Transit Cell of City District Government Karachi for establishment of CNG fuelling stations under private-public partnership in city. The meeting noted that while allocating the Green Routes to be identified by CDGK for CNG Bus operators, integration of all modes of public transport system of the city would be ensured and there must be no conflict/overlapping on routes between existing and future mode of transport.