I want to question our policy makers about their decision to import CNG buses, CNG kits for cars and other machines, which use natural gas as fuel. A few years ago, people were encouraged all over the country to switch over to the fuel of natural gas from diesel or petrol to lessen our dependence on costly oil imports. For this purpose, CNG kits for cars, buses and other vehicles were imported in huge numbers. CNG-fitted public transport buses were imported. Even for electricity generation during power load shedding, gas generators were imported and people bought them in large numbers. An enormous amount of money was wasted on introducing natural gas as a cheaper, safer and alternate fuel. People followed the government’s policy blindly and spent their hard-earned money during this conversion to the CNG trend. Alas, they trusted their policymakers and did not ask for an assurance of regular supply of natural gas to the machines they had fitted in their homes and industries. After the electricity loadshedding, now the people are also facing gas loadshedding. Transport shortage doubles during the weekly off days of CNG. Industries remain closed for three days a week, rendering thousands of people jobless. The situation could have been averted if the former government would have focused more on tapping more fuel reservoirs, which our country has in abundance. However, political leaders remained busy in serving their vested interests more and ignored the projects necessary for the country’s progress.
MUHAMMAD JUNAID,
Karachi, December 27.